Education Gender Equality
Bianca Desai
What is gender equality and how does it apply to education?
Gender equality is the view that both men and women should receive equal treatment and not be discriminated because of their gender. It applies to education because often times girls have a disadvantage of educational opportunities because of their gender. They either don't have the same opportunities as boys do, or they have to drop out because of early marriage, childbirth, or they face illnesses such as HIV or AIDS. Many countries have cultural disadvantages to girls because boys are favored, and they also face social and economic disadvantages such as poverty, and or attacks on the girls. How can we encourage reform for these girls?
How do we promote and sustain gender equality in education?
- Some girls cannot attend school because of location. Giving the same transportation to girls as boys have will allow for equality.
- Some girls cannot afford to stay in school because they are living in poverty is a barrier to equality. This problem can be fixed through giving them supplies and supporting them economically.
- Many girls face harassment and bullying in school from boys. Making sure that teachers are supervising correctly and not allowing this to occur will help them stay focused and do what they came to do.
- Girls will need supplies such as menstruation supplies during their adolescent years. They need separate bathrooms from girls and they have other needs to ensure gender equality.
- There is a lack of women teachers and these are needed to provide support to the girls and attend to their needs.
- There are many stereotypes against girls that they need to stay at home and cook, clean, and attend to the children. Education is not one of the things that girls are thought to have, and to ensure equality, the staff needs to ensure that these stereotypes are not used against the girls.
Research & Data
- When girls receive an education, women are less likely to marry early, die from childbirth, have healthy babies, and then send those children to school
- Prevents AIDS and HIV because girls are less likely to get married and have babies with an education because they are focusing on studies.
- Secondary Education leads to a 25% increase in wages for girls later on in life.
- In Africa and Asia, if all girls had secondary education, child marriage would fall by 64%.
- The United NationĀ“s Education Initiative helps countries achieve gender equality and allows for empowerment in girls.
- UNICEF works towards tackling discrimination, violence, and the exclusion of girls.
CALL TO ACTION:
- Empower girls so that they are motivated to get an education.
- Donate supplies through a supply drive so that less fortunate girls can get an education too.
- Show respect to everybody in school to display gender equality.
- Volunteer for the schools in poverty to help support girl empowerment.
- Help out where you can, donate money for the girls that are living in poverty if needed.
- Tutor girls so they can receive the same education as boys.