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| David Hamblin with the first group of "Granny Charlotte's Girls. Photo Credit: No Poor Among Us |
The value that is added to society when women and girls are educated is unsurpassed. Women make up half of the population and therefore are very important in family life, the business world and the community (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). Access to education is a basic human right and has been shown to break the cycle of poverty and will also help improve the quality of life for children, communities and countries (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). Worldwide there are about 122 girls that lack educations for every 100 boys (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). This in turn contributes to two-thirds of the 781 million illiterate adults being women (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.).
Sheryl WuDunn has a great quote, “When you educate a girl, there is a ripple effect that goes beyond what you would get from a normal investment…when you educate a girl; you educate a village (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.).” Women and girls who are educated are more likely to delay marriage, have fewer and healthier children, and use reliable family planning methods (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). Formal education also helps empower women so that they feel more self confident to become active and help make decisions within their home, and want to be a stronger part of their communities (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). It is also a proven fact that educated women will encourage their children to attend, remain in school, and gain higher education which will contribute to a generational poverty reduction (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.).
According to the United Nations, and the Millennium Development Goals, number two is Achieve Universal Primary Education (The United Nations). This is a goal not just for girls but for boys as well. They have seen a huge jump in literacy in places like that Africa and Asia from 1990-2011 (The United Nations). Northern Africa went from 68 percent to about 89 percent, and Southern Asia jumped from 60 percent to 81 percent, there has also been a narrowing of the gender gap in these areas (The United Nations). Many times poverty is a huge factor when it comes to children being uneducated. People who come from poor households are three times more likely to be without an education (The United Nations). Around the world about 123 million youths lack writing and reading skills, 61 percent of these youths are in fact women (The United Nations).
One of the most powerful tools to help reduce the occurrence of HIV/AIDS is girls’ education. A study in Zambia proved that AIDS spread twice as slow among girls with access to education (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). With the help of the Millenium Development Goal number 6, there is an attempt to provide a more comprehensive knowledge of HIV transmission among young people (The United Nations). Those with an education are also less vulnerable to sex trafficking and forced prostitution (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.).
Unfortunately even though there is so much positive information about women and girls getting an education there are still barriers (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). Such as male children being seen as a priority; in many cultures it is the son whose educations seems like a much more long term investment (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). There is also the fact that many families believe that a girl will make a larger impact to the family by staying at home and helping with the domestic duties (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). Another huge factor is that in many developing countries there is a large distance between villages and schools, this creates the danger of girls being harassed or even raped and many schools do not cater to females (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). They do not provide appropriate bathrooms and many times girls are faced with hostile school environments (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). Overall, educating women puts twice as many skilled people out in the world and that simply could not be a negative thing, so breaking down these stereotypical walls, and helping girls become further educated is in all of our best interests.
References:
The United Nations. (2014). Millennium Development Goals and Beyond 2015.
Retrieved from http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/education.shtml
The United Nations. (2014). Millennium Development Goals and Beyond 2015.
Retrieved from http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/aids.shtml
Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S. (n.d.). Half the Sky Movement.
Retrieved from http://www.halftheskymovement.org/issues/education
Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S. (2010).
Half the sky: Turning oppression into opportunity for women worldwide.
Sheryl WuDunn has a great quote, “When you educate a girl, there is a ripple effect that goes beyond what you would get from a normal investment…when you educate a girl; you educate a village (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.).” Women and girls who are educated are more likely to delay marriage, have fewer and healthier children, and use reliable family planning methods (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). Formal education also helps empower women so that they feel more self confident to become active and help make decisions within their home, and want to be a stronger part of their communities (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). It is also a proven fact that educated women will encourage their children to attend, remain in school, and gain higher education which will contribute to a generational poverty reduction (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.).
According to the United Nations, and the Millennium Development Goals, number two is Achieve Universal Primary Education (The United Nations). This is a goal not just for girls but for boys as well. They have seen a huge jump in literacy in places like that Africa and Asia from 1990-2011 (The United Nations). Northern Africa went from 68 percent to about 89 percent, and Southern Asia jumped from 60 percent to 81 percent, there has also been a narrowing of the gender gap in these areas (The United Nations). Many times poverty is a huge factor when it comes to children being uneducated. People who come from poor households are three times more likely to be without an education (The United Nations). Around the world about 123 million youths lack writing and reading skills, 61 percent of these youths are in fact women (The United Nations).
One of the most powerful tools to help reduce the occurrence of HIV/AIDS is girls’ education. A study in Zambia proved that AIDS spread twice as slow among girls with access to education (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). With the help of the Millenium Development Goal number 6, there is an attempt to provide a more comprehensive knowledge of HIV transmission among young people (The United Nations). Those with an education are also less vulnerable to sex trafficking and forced prostitution (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.).
Unfortunately even though there is so much positive information about women and girls getting an education there are still barriers (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). Such as male children being seen as a priority; in many cultures it is the son whose educations seems like a much more long term investment (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). There is also the fact that many families believe that a girl will make a larger impact to the family by staying at home and helping with the domestic duties (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). Another huge factor is that in many developing countries there is a large distance between villages and schools, this creates the danger of girls being harassed or even raped and many schools do not cater to females (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). They do not provide appropriate bathrooms and many times girls are faced with hostile school environments (Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S.). Overall, educating women puts twice as many skilled people out in the world and that simply could not be a negative thing, so breaking down these stereotypical walls, and helping girls become further educated is in all of our best interests.
References:
The United Nations. (2014). Millennium Development Goals and Beyond 2015.
Retrieved from http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/education.shtml
The United Nations. (2014). Millennium Development Goals and Beyond 2015.
Retrieved from http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/aids.shtml
Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S. (n.d.). Half the Sky Movement.
Retrieved from http://www.halftheskymovement.org/issues/education
Kristof, N., & WuDunn, S. (2010).
Half the sky: Turning oppression into opportunity for women worldwide.
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