World Changing Response # 7 - Educating Girls

If girls are allowed to go to school from a young age, she will be more likely to have knowledge of contraception, have fewer children, hold a better job, and perhaps start her own business. She would know about her civil and human rights, have more self confidence to stand up to potential sexual abusers, and when she does have children will know how to better take care of them. Knowing what needs to be done is easy, actually doing it is being taken in greater strides. Gender disparity in primary and secondary schools still largely exists due to government and patriarchal structures. It may require the unveiling of child labor practices or changing a culture so a wife is no longer viewed as property. A number of religious fundamentals also try to restrict women’s freedom.
The World Food Program gets girls into classrooms and also provides one meal a day. However, when food is scarce women and girls are often shortcut while the source of income, men and boys, are better fed. Girls are typically slighted in protein, which contributes to brain development. School feeding programs enhance student performance, reduce absenteeism, encourage parents to enroll their children for longer periods, and has reduced drop out rates. However, girls’ labor is an important source of income and contribution to the family and teachers often engrain in students that boys are superior. In this aspect, getting the community and parents involved is gravely important. In India, the Uttar Pradesh school gets women to walk girls to school, organize parent-teacher functions, encourages the parents of children not yet enrolled, and leading support groups to expose the importance of a girls’ education which would end the cycle of female illiteracy and impoverishment (Steffen 316-321).

Steffen, Alex. World Changing: A User’s Guide For The 21st Century. New York: Abrams, 2008.