Discussions in schools in more developed countries often deal with their priorities, such as which subjects should be given more importance, which student needs additional support, or where more budget should be invested.
United Nations data suggest that in the last decade, there has been “almost zero progress” in access to education in some of the world’s poorest countries. This has generated different opportunities for both boys and girls in terms of access to education. Sexism in education is not a new thing, and this is often addressed in essays on sexism that can be found online. These student-written articles are often based on real-life examples of sexism in education. And although one is formally free to choose the education that he needs, the reality is different. the demonstration that even in all developed countries these roles are not completely equal.
But for families living in most developing countries, concerns about children’s education are often just as basic. Not sure if it will be possible to send your children to school? Could it be free? And could they even get into college?
On the other hand, in a written report published by the same organization at the end of last year that examined the quality of education, the findings were alarming: more than 600 million children in the classroom learn almost nothing about this subject.
Gender is an Important Factor
In many countries around the world, girls who are inadvertently subjected to sexism and prejudice are expected to work, usually at home or caring for their siblings. Instead of going to school. And many marry in their teens, ending any chance of receiving an education.
As for what experts say about income, it is hard to believe that there are countries where women earn up to 75% less than men. As is the case in Iran, where women earn an average of $ 21,000 per year compared to just over $ 4,000 per year for men. These are data provided by one of the latest reports by the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Global Gender Gap and today they never cease to amaze me.
There are countries where women have to fight against barriers and social injustices: forced marriage, the veto in politics, or wage inequality are just some of them. According to the facts and figures of the WEF report, which has analyzed more than 145 countries around the world, these are the 10 countries that have obtained the worst score in terms of gender equality, thus making them the countries with the worst educational rights for girls. :
- Afghanistan
- Egypt
- Mali
- Lebanon
- Morocco
- Jordan
- Iran
- Syria
- Pakistan
- Yemen
The main reasons why these countries are the worst countries for women’s rights are usually a combination of some or almost all of the reasons, which in general are the main cause of this sexism and prejudice against the education of women:
Life expectancy is less than that of men.
A general climate of sexist violence and misogyny due to many factors and themes.
In some countries, mostly Catholic, where divorce is not allowed, there is what is called an “honor crime” whereby a father/brother can murder his daughter/sister if he suspects that she is being unfaithful to him.
In many cases, political representation in Parliament or in any political body is insufficient or directly non-existent, which creates a vicious circle in which women are not represented or have access to public office.
Best Countries for Girls to Get an Education
If you are now gathering information on where you might be moving today, hope you do not live in one of the aforementioned countries. To end on a lighter note, here are some examples from countries that are well known for having a more tolerant culture and favorable conditions for most women:
- Portugal
- Japan
- Cuba
- United States
- Ireland
- Luxemburg
- Austria
- New Zealand
Conclusion
Although some trial statistics are daunting, it is revealing to keep these things in mind when traveling or thinking about our situation in our home country. Many of us are very fortunate that we were not born in one of the countries with the worst educational rights for girls.
While being a woman in general in the world today (and yesterday) is a much more exhausting experience than being a man, in certain countries, in addition to those mentioned above, there is an extreme climate for women to thrive. And in many respects, the worst thing is that it is normalized through cultural norms, religion, or other untouchable barriers.
Times are changing, as Dylan would say. And it’s true: statistics and study samples are proving to be reassuring in many countries, even developed countries, where and I firmly believe that through this constant activism and global communication, we can minimize the gender gap in less than a decade.
