Performing Gender, Negotiating Health the Intersection of Socialization, Reproductive Awareness, and Community Theatre

This paper examines how community theatre serves as a powerful space for negotiating gender norms and enhancing reproductive health awareness. Drawing on theories of gender performativity, social learning, and participatory communication, it explores the way lived experiences are translated into performances that challenge stereotypes, promote dialogue, and build collective agency. Using case studies from global South contexts, particularly India, the discussion highlights theatre’s dual role as a mirror reflecting entrenched socialization patterns and a catalyst for community transformation. The paper argues that sustainable change emerges when artistic practice is embedded in community ownership, gender-sensitive pedagogy, and links to broader health systems.