119 million girls around the world do not have access to education, especially in countries affected by conflict. Barriers preventing women from attending school include poverty, underage marriages, violence, and gender biases in which poor families often prioritize educating sons over daughters. These obstacles hinder girls from receiving an education and make it challenging for young women to learn necessary life skills if they do not have adequate learning opportunities. Beyond challenges in accessing education, in some areas, schools also fail to meet essential hygiene, sanitation, and safety standards for women, according to unicef.org. Despite the increase in access to education globally and in well-developed countries like the United States (US), numerous impoverished nations, like those in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa, still struggle with giving women a proper education. Therefore, continuing to raise awareness and fund girls’ education is necessary because it would raise the world out of poverty.
In the Middle East, particularly in Afghanistan, girls are less likely to attend school, according to unesco.org. The absence of education frequently results in mental health problems such as anxiety, mood disorders, depression, isolation, and loneliness. Mental health professionals reported a disturbing increase in suicidal ideation among these students, attributing it to the gender discrimination and severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban, according to feminist.org. A future without educated women would mean a workforce that does not contribute to the prosperity of Afghanistan, a struggling healthcare and legal system, increased human rights violations, child marriage rates, poverty rates, and the declining health of women and children, according to feminist.org. In countries affected by fragility, conflict, and violence, girls are two and a half times more likely to be out of school than boys, according to worldbank.org. While some may argue that raising money for girls’ education is a secondary priority compared to funding for other major charitable groups, it is essential in helping future generations to close the wealth gap.
Approximately 34 million teenage girls are out of school in sub-Saharan Africa due to unprecedented crises including COVID-19, forced displacement, and growing food insecurity. In addition to the rising poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, the population will double by 2050, leading to an increase in economic hardship and fewer women able to afford an education, according to worldbank.org. Although on a global scale, there are more girls in schools than ever before, it is of utmost importance to fund girls’ education in sub-Saharan Africa, to help families out of economic instability.
One in every 10 women lives in extreme poverty. If current trends continue, by 2030, an estimated eight percent of the world’s female population, 342.4 million women and girls, will still be living on less than $2.15 a day, according to unwomen.org. Both individuals and countries benefit from providing quality education for girls. Better-educated women tend to be more informed about nutrition and healthcare, marry at a later age, and have fewer children, according to unicef.org. The importance of women gaining access to schooling, feeling safe in the classroom environment, and receiving support in their career pursuits, is apparent. Although many countries have reached gender parity, others still have limited female education, where women often face lower earning potential, higher poverty rates, limited job opportunities, and worse health outcomes compared to their male counterparts with better access to education.
Ms. Malala Yousafzai is the co-founder and Nobel laureate of the Malala Fund, an organization centered around raising awareness and money to fund expanded education for women, according to malala.org. Born and raised in Pakistan, Ms. Yousafzai has written many books, and has received a Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to help gain access to education for women in impoverished countries. Ms. Yousafzai commented on the growing importance of women’s education for future generations.
“When 130 million girls are unable to become engineers or journalists or CEOs because education is out of their reach, our world misses out on trillions of dollars that could strengthen the global economy, public health, and stability,” Ms. Yousafzai said, according to worldbank.org. “If leaders are serious about building a better world, they need to start with serious investments in girls’ secondary education. This report is more proof that we cannot afford to delay investing in girls.”
Although there are many influential voices and numerous communities that have helped advance and support education for women, individual in well-off countries need to raise awareness and funds for women in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring they have equal access to safe, free, quality education in impoverished communities.
Featured Image by Natalia Wright ’27
