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Urgent issues -
Gender and Development
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Education for all Laws may be changing, schools being built and fees being waived, but girls are still not receiving their fair share of education. In what’s been dubbed the 'Cinderella Syndrome', many girls in Asia can attend school only after all their other duties have been completed. Often, education for boys is seen as an investment in the whole family’s future. Girls on the other hand seem more useful at home, helping to run the house or look after younger siblings. Even if girls do attend school, they’re less likely to complete their education, or even progress to secondary level. There are lower expectations for their educational achievement, plus family pressures to work and contribute to their keep. School can be a challenge Keeping up in class is not what makes school hard for girls in developing communities. It can still feel like a place for boys, with inadequate female toilet facilities, mainly male teachers, and little protection from teasing or physical harassment as the children grow older. In cultures where female education is a recent trend, there are few female role models to show girls the benefits of staying at school for longer. Many girls drop out of school of their own accord, to fulfil the role of marriage and motherhood they believe to be their destiny. Others are not given the choice, with early marriage arranged by their families. For most girls, education ends there, with limited knowledge of literacy and numeracy, healthcare and nutrition, the world and their role in it. It's a real pity, because as mothers, workers and community members, that knowledge could help them in everything they do. Overcoming 'Cinderella Syndrome' World Vision sponsorship programmes encourage girls to stay at school by helping design curriculums and activities with both boys and girls in mind. Teachers are trained to be sensitive to the needs of young girls, and to step in with advice and encouragement if girls or their families are considering early marriage. While more and more girls are completing secondary school and progressing to university or a career, girls who assume traditional roles in developing communities still feel the benefits of their education. Reading, writing and numeracy skills help with women’s confidence, involvement in decisions and employment options. Improved general knowledge brings a greater awareness of women’s and children’s rights. Educated women are better mothers, too. They marry later, have improved maternal health and a longer life as a result, and know more about how to care for themselves and their children. Most importantly, educated women are more likely to insist that their own daughters receive an education on a par with their sons. Once started, it takes only one generation for the 'Cinderella Syndrome' to disappear from family tradition. And in communities where World Vision works throughout Asia, it’s started.
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