Gender equality is a matter of great concern. To achieve the goal of gender equality, it is necessary to start with education to raise awareness about gender equality. Therefore, gender equality in education is an important thing. In this article, we will address gender stereotypes and equality in education.
What is gender equality in education?
Gender equality in education can be understood as follows:
Men and women are equal in terms of age for going to school, training, and fostering.
Women and men are equal in choosing majors and occupations for study and training.
Men and women are equal in accessing and enjoying educational, training, and professional development policies.
Gender equality is also reflected in the fact that every person, whether male or female, should be given a choice to study the way they want. For example, because of different problems, sometimes some girls cannot perform physical activities to the expected standards the school sets for both boys and girls. Therefore, educators must take the right action and provide individualized learning therapy. Personalization in education is also seen as a measure of gender equality.
The importance of gender equality in education
Gender equality in education increases the average quality of human resources in society. Suppose we assume that boys and girls are equally gifted and that more capable children receive more education and training. In that case, favoritism for boys means that more boys with lower potential than girls receive more education. Thus, the quality of human resources in the economy will be lower than achievable and inhibit the potential for economic growth.
Gender equality in education positively influences the quality of human resources in the future. As gender inequality in education decreases, at each level of training, the awareness of women in society improves. Mothers will have a higher level of education than in the past. Thus, the investment in children’s education will also be directly enhanced through the mother’s upbringing and the mother’s persuasion or right to invest more in her children’s education.
In addition, the mother’s education level is higher, which plays a decisive role in the care and education of her children. In the long term, these impacts will improve the quality of human resources. At the same time, it increases the average labor productivity of the whole society.
Gender stereotypes in education
The phenomenon of gender inequality in education exists in more places and to a greater extent than you think.
For example, when students are naughty, books show pictures of boys when in reality, not all boys are playful, and all girls are good. The designation is that boys tend to be naughty. At the same time, girls are obedient, and taking care of the housework is one of the roots that make more boys behave that way because naughty is “an expression of discovery.” Prejudice in books also shows many girls at a certain age close themselves and limit their exploration to align with the social standards set for their gender.
There is currently a situation where educators are discriminatory about gender when dealing with students. (not always with negative intent, but there is still discrimination). For example, class instructors often choose girls to clean and decorate classrooms; boys do the hard work like carrying equipment. Meanwhile, female students with more endurance can bring heavy things with boys. Some boys also can be more skillful than girls in housework.
Gender inequality not only puts pressure on women but also invisibly creates a burden on men. The “privileges” such as men must be the breadwinners and men must be leaders, etc., are the burdens that male students face.
How to challenge gender stereotypes in schools?
To eliminate gender stereotypes, it is necessary to have solutions on propaganda and education to raise awareness about gender and gender equality for both men and women. Accordingly, it is essential to coordinate synchronously among education, school, family, and society, where gender stereotypes exist.
At the same time, to eliminate gender stereotypes, gender equality must be considered one of the leading educational content. And it must be integrated into the curricula of all levels, from preschool to higher education.
The media significantly contributes to changing misconceptions about women and men. In some developed countries, besides honoring women, the media also promotes the role of men in the family. For example, announcements on school bulletin boards about girls who play sports well and boys who can cook well (activities not commonly seen in boys and girls) will change students’ perceptions from a young age.
Schools can also encourage students to participate in activities that promote awareness of gender equality. Some examples are debates about the role of men and women in society, drawing activities to propagate gender equality or history lessons about struggles for equal rights.
Towards a civilized and modern society, gender equality is indispensable. And to achieve gender equality, everyone should be informed about it from the time they are in school. Gender equality in education has always played an essential role in the struggle for equal rights globally.
