Post-Pandemic Education is the Reality For Millions of Girls Today
Tags: Society, Culture, Women, Equality, Education

In the world right now, there are 750 million adults who lack basic literacy skills. Almost two-thirds of that number is made up of female adults.

That’s half a billion young girls who missed out on education compared to 250 million boys.

I don’t know about you, but it’s clear that a boy’s education is more favoured in our world. A world that’s progressed so much but still has a lot further to go.

You’d say, traditionally, men have always been more favoured in society due to their stronger natural biological make-up. With a bit of insight, it’s actually a bit more complicated. Pile on some greed and insecurity on top of male biology and there you have the roots of gender inequality.

Men are considered the breadwinners — hence the gender pay gap as we know it. Therefore, even from a young age, parents start prioritising sons over daughters because that will reap the most profits, especially in places where access to education is restricted. In many developing countries like China, India, Mali, and Niger, it is rather tough for a girl to step a foot into a school because wealth is just not in their favour.

In the poorest of regions, parents look to invest wisely in their children to secure their old age. Thus, daughters are a liability to marry off and sons are an asset to keep. This unreasonable tradition has contained many women. To the point where a significant number of ladies around the world believe their purpose is to be subservient to men.

UNESCO statistics show that today there are 132 million girls out of education. With 34.5 million girls out of primary education. By the time they reach secondary school a further 32 million girls drop out of education, totaling 67 million young girls out of higher secondary education. These numbers actually convey a much darker story.

Growing female youth is seen as a burden. Thus, an 8th grader is married off to a middle-aged man to bear his children whilst being a child herself. This has occurred for centuries — but the future doesn’t look so good either. This is because the majority of the 67 million girls dropping out of secondary education are being trapped in this cycle, only to recreate this in further generations.

Even within their homes, young girls have no voice to convey the smallest of choice. Their silence only gives power to the domineering husbands and fathers. Turns out males aren’t strong because of their biological make-up; It’s a woman’s tolerance that’s taken advantage of.

Gaining knowledge and exterior perspectives allows us to evaluate our own opinions. Educating our daughters will not only allow them to form opinions but also enhance our perspectives. It will give them enough human instincts to at least respond to unjust brutality.

Reports suggest that every extra year of schooling enables girls to care for their own health and any potential children too. Infants born to a mother with just a few years of higher secondary education are less likely to die before the age of 5. Education can reduce infant mortality by 50%. It will allow women to narrow the gender gap by beating the root cause: greed. It’ll enable them to earn an income to stamp down a firm position.

And no longer will I be a liability.