Gender Inequality and Education for Women

Due to rapid population growth, poverty and politico-economic reasons, the number of illiterates is increasing continuously in the world. In most society’s women have lower status, no access to education, less food and no health care but work longer hours, have lowered incomes and little or no access to ownerships of property. Normally in developing countries, the proportion of women literates is less than that of literate men.

Girls receive less health care and food than boys thus girls are malnourished. Due to illiteracy they also mostly work in informal sectors’ where pay levels tend to be lower. Gender specific inequalities are reinforced by unequal access to education.  Girls often are simply not sent to school or drop out later, thus increasing the level of illiteracy among women.

Those who live in semi literate families, there is no pressure on women to receive education. Even when the motivation is there, other obstacles are permanently present. Women have to perform so many roles that they do not find enough time for fulltime or even part time educational activities. Fatigue, frequent or early pregnancies, caring for children and families, agricultural and cultural activities and formal or informal employment, are among the many reasons for lack of time. This heavy workload leads to high rate of absenteeism and drop-out of women from literacy activities. Cultural patterns or customs also force negative attitude to daughters’ education. For parents, investing in girls’ education is perceived as a waste of time and money, as after marriage she will be leaving her parents and live with her husband and in-laws. Further women in general are paid less in labour market.

Present study will explore the dropout’s girls from schools and how it affects their future life and in turn loss to nation.