Education Issues For Women

There are many education issues facing women, and although many of them are now recognized and are improving, there’s still a long way to go.

Education starts from the minute a baby is born, and from the minute they enter the world, kicking and screaming, there are differences between the ways a baby girl is treated from a baby boy.

“She’s got such delicate little fingers!”
“Look at those fists; he’s gonna’ be a boxer just like his Dad!”

THEY ARE EXACTLY THE SAME!

Maybe not so much these days, with so much emphasis on equality, but without even knowing it, many parents still actually discriminate between the sexes of their children, from the toys they are given and the ‘action songs’ they are taught. We still expect our little girls to be sweet, and our little boys to prosper in a good old game of ‘rough and tumble.’ Dollies and toy cars!

It comes as little surprise then that this goes on right through school, higher education and into the workplace. Traditionally ‘girls are good at English’ and ‘boys are good at math’. While there are real differences in the brains of the sexes, to generalize in such a fashion is and always has been a real problem, especially for the girls who, might actually excel at math and science if they hadn’t been told a million times that they wouldn’t be any good at it. Ah, the good old self fulfilling prophecy.

Education Issues for Women – In a Mans World

Since the 1980’s there has been a great amount of emphasis on equal opportunities for women in higher education, and more and more women are now realizing that they can have the opportunity to study science, math and engineering, and be actually quite good at it! In fact, in many parts of the developed world the women have now surpassed the men at some levels of higher education. In the United States, for example, in the academic year 2005/6, more than 50% of degrees were earned by women at all levels, with 62% of Associate’s degrees being earned by women.

Discrimination against Women in Education

Even with all the equality movements which women have fought so hard for over the decades, cultural norms still dictate many education issues. Much of society is still geared towards thinking that women should ultimately become mothers, and therefore be responsible for looking after the children. Many women, therefore, pursue an education which leads to an occupation allowing for long periods of absence, to give them the opportunity to stay at home and be full time moms. his ultimately leads to many women being unable to earn anywhere near the salary expected by a male counterpart, as they are employed in more sex-stereotyped, low status occupations.

Education Issues for Women – Teaching Boys and Girls differently

Many teachers, without even giving it a second thought, adapt different teaching methods for the boys and girls in their classes. Whereas boys are often given more attention, helping them to become more social and develop leadership skills, girls are often quieter and subconsciously learn to be passive and submit to the boys. Thus, both sexes are becoming socialized and learning their expected adult roles.

Education Issues for Women – The Future

There is still some evidence of sex discrimination in college courses and high school choices, which results in women not being as prepared as men for the more prestigious, well paid occupations, but there are many initiatives which are seeing the gap close, largely due to the determination of today’s modern women. However, can women ever really rid themselves of these education issues; after all, they are still expected to take chief responsibility for many domestic tasks, regardless of their job or contribution to the annual income.