milayetu: Equality Through Education

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Friday, December 01, 2006

Equality Through Education

In Africa societies it is a common fact that women are undermined in almost all areas of life except the kitchen and their role in the family circle. A lot has been said about the right to women being given equal opportunities as men in all areas of life. As this is said a very important aspect must not be overlooked, education. Women should use education as a tool to fight for those positions and jobs that have been branded “men only” by the patriarchal society. Girls should not be denied the right to education despite the circumstances they find themselves in. There are many incidences that occur in which young girls get pregnant in school, and that pregnancy marks the end of their education. Parents quickly marry them off, in the name of covering the 'shame'. And what about that man or boy that made the girl pregnant? What embarrassing mark does he bare? A huge burden is placed on young girls. From childhood the girl is taught that she is different from the boy; that the boy is stronger than she is, that there are some things that a boy can do and get away with it but not her. She is taught that there are subjects that if she does not do well in she is excused because she is a girl. When she fails she should know that she needs to work harder, the fact that she is a girl should not be an excuse for failing. If this is not done as the girl grows up, she grows knowing that there is always someone better than her, someone she can depend on; the man.
By providing equality in education the girls grow up knowing that there are not different from the boys. They will therefore not shy off from challenging positions in life, positions branded by the patriarchal society as "men only". There will be no need of spending so much money in informing women that they are equaly as capable as men when it comes to leadership positions. We now even have women presidents in Africa. Education is the hammer to use to break this stigmatisation faced by women. Strike when the iron is hot, that is when the women are just young girls. Mould these young girls and help them realise the potential they have, and few years from now inequality based on gender will be a thing of the past.

posted by milayetu @ 2:26 AM

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