Students of the open elective ENG1909: Exploring Gender – Narratives from Campus to Community conducted a two-day field-based study on gender and labour roles within the campus from November 18 to 20, 2025. This activity, aligned with Module 5: Gender and Campus Life, formed the final continuous assessment component.

During two sessions, students interviewed faculty and staff, including attendants, gardeners, bus drivers, lab assistants, cafeteria staff, mess workers, and security personnel. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, they explored themes such as work responsibilities, recognition, workplace safety, gendered expectations, and work–life balance.

Key observations included gendered division of labour, differences in decision-making authority, safety concerns in certain work environments, and the double burden of paid and unpaid labour often carried by women employees.

Through this activity, students gained valuable insights into how gender intersects with class, caste, and occupational hierarchies on campus. The exercise strengthened their analytical and ethical research skills while fostering a deeper understanding of the everyday labour that supports the university community.

The activity was coordinated by assistant professors, Dr. Ahmed Shabin K.K .and Dr. Clarence Victor Fernandes,