The Power of Female Education (and How to Support It)
Female education tends to be overlooked, yet it should remain a priority for everyone looking to promote positive global change. This article will discuss reasons why female education is important and ways you can support female education/promote equal education for all.
Why is Female Education Important? (Benefits of Female Education)
Cultural and gender norms often prioritize boys’ education over girls’, leading to gender disparities in access to schooling. Supporting female education is important in reducing these disparities and giving girls the opportunity to build better lives for themselves. Female education allows girls increased access to economic independence, better career prospects, and a future where they are empowered to make a difference in the world around them.
Educating girls and encouraging them to attend school from a young age can also decrease instances of teen pregnancies and early marriages. Then, when educated girls eventually have children of their own, they are more likely to bear and raise better educated children. This results in healthier families and a model to follow for generations to come.
Teen pregnancies and early marriages can contribute to an incomplete educational experience through increased school absences, lack of focus in the classroom, etc. In some cases, they may even discourage girls from pursuing education altogether.
According to a report from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), “It is estimated that 15 million girls–mainly those living in poverty–will never set foot in a classroom, compared to 10 million boys.” This is a statistic that everyone has the power to change, and doing so will lead to more opportunities for girls to thrive in the world.
Dangers of Overlooking Female Education
Overlooking female education presents many dangers to the education system, female development, and gender equality initiatives.
Lack of support for female education continues harmful patterns of gender stereotypes in the education system and in society. When society prioritizes male education over female education, it perpetuates the idea that boys ought to be more educated and successful in society, which can discourage girls from attending school and even decrease female access to schooling altogether.
At school, students develop various life skills that are important to their well-being, including:
- Critical thinking skills
- Problem solving
- Reading
- Social skills
- Leadership skills
Without access to education, many girls may never have the opportunity to learn the skills they need to be successful in their communities. This can also hurt a girl’s future financially, as it may be more difficult for her to make enough money to support herself and her family, continuing the dangerous cycle of poverty worldwide.
How Can I Support Female Education?
Here are some ways that you can support female education/promote equal education for all:
- Advocate for gender equality in the education system. Spread awareness on existing gender disparities within the education system and be an active part of the change by educating others.
- Volunteer. Support female education initiatives through volunteer work, community service, outreach, etc.
- Donate money, books, and other educational resources. Many schools and educational programs can use these resources to further a girl’s education.
- Sponsor a girl’s education. Poverty is a significant barrier to education in Africa and around the world, with many families unable to afford school fees, uniforms, and other related expenses. By contributing financially to a girl’s education, you make it possible for her to receive the proper education she needs to succeed.
“Every child—every girl—deserves an education,” says Orlyanka Tantchou, Co-Founder of No Limit International and advocate for female empowerment in education and beyond. “It’s a basic human right.” When girls are educated, there is no limit to their capabilities.
Support Female Education with No Limit International
With your support, No Limit International can continue its mission of advancing gender equality by increasing access to education for young girls. Donate today and join us as we break barriers, erase stigmas, and provide essential resources for female education across Africa and the world.
To learn more about No Limit International, give us a call at +237 699 99 02 89 / +237 675 80 85 10 or contact us via email at info@nolimitinternational.org. Together, we can ensure equal education for all.
