A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Awareness Program on Practice Regarding Gender Sensitization among Adolescent’s Students Studying in Grade 7th to 10th at Selected Schools in Kalaburagi District in Karnataka

ABSTRACT: Introduction : Gender sensitization among adolescent students is a crucial process aimed at fostering awareness, sensitivity, and positive attitudes toward gender equality during formative years. Adolescence is a critical stage where perceptions of social roles, relationships, and identity begin to develop, making it essential to address stereotypes and discriminatory norms early. Schools serve as effective platforms to instill gender-equitable values, challenge prejudices, and promote respectful interactions between boys and girls. By introducing structured sensitization programs, adolescents can learn to recognize bias, embrace inclusivity, and contribute to building a more equitable society, ultimately reducing gender-based discrimination and fostering social harmony in future generations. Methodology : A pre-experimental one-group pre-test post-test design was adopted to assess the effectiveness of an awareness program on gender sensitization among adolescents. The study was conducted at Chandrakant Patil English Medium School and Government School for Girls in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, with 100 students from grades 7th to 10th selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured, validated practice checklist administered before and after the intervention. The awareness program involved interactive sessions, charts, and discussions, followed by a post-test after 7–10 days. Data analysis was performed using SPSS v25 with paired t-test, significance set at p<0.05, ensuring ethical standards.. Results : The findings present a comparative overview of pre-test, post-test, and enhancement practice scores among adolescents. In the pre-test, scores ranged from 2 to 11 with a mean of 6.54 (43.60%), reflecting inadequate baseline practices. Post-test scores showed notable improvement, ranging from 8 to 15 with a higher mean of 12.51 (83.40%), indicating a substantial rise in practice levels following the intervention. The enhancement mean was 5.97 (39.80%), representing the average gain in practice, with variability reflected by SD = 2.00. The coefficient of variance reduced from 24.94% in pre-test to 13.03% in post-test, showing more uniform responses. The paired t-test value of 59.63 (df = 399) was statistically significant, confirming the effectiveness of the intervention. Conclusion: The study concludes that the awareness program on gender sensitization was highly effective, as shown by the significant improvement in post-test practice scores compared to pre-test. The reduced variability and significant paired t-test results confirm that the intervention enhanced adolescents’ practices, fostering greater awareness and uniformity in responses.