The importance of female education in somalia

Argument In this paper, I argue education is intrinsic to development in Somalia and boosting levels of female education can increase family health, child survival, and economic development. Without a real change on both a local level and by the government in Somalia to give girls in developing countries the education they need, they will be denied equal opportunities in work and life forever.

Background Discrimination comes from: Gender inequalities Expectations of early marriage and pregnancy Lack of overall respect/regard for women Religious values Despite the proven benefits that come from female education, girls face a particular set of barriers that prevents them from receiving an education, including many economic and cultural impediments. Somalis are primarily Sunni Muslims (Islam) The Koran endorses certain forms gender discrimination including, “A woman’s testimony only counts half as much as a man, and a daughter only inherits half as much as a son…it has been much harder for pious Muslims to ignore unpleasant and antiquated passages in the Koran, because it is believed to be not just divinely inspired but literally the word of God” These religious beliefs play a prominent role in cultural practices, perpetuate the idea of male power over women, and prevent women from acting as individuals.

Analysis & Evidence Somalia has 95% of girls not attending school and has one the poorest indicators of human development “with the lowest life expectancy, the highest infant mortality rate, and one of the highest levels of illiteracy” (World Bank, 2009).

Analysis & Evidence In 2012, Somalia ranked the #1 country on the World Inequality Database in Education for the percentage of poor women who have never been to school

Analysis & Evidence Economic reasons Value of boys education over girls Less risky for the job market Economic reason for investing in the education of boys rather than girls because girls are perceived as less valuable when educated Educated women are believed to be less likely to abide by their father or husband, and therefore it is better to keep them uneducated in order to keep them obedient Also, boys are seen as more likely to get jobs once they are educated, therefore it is less of a risk to put a boy through school than a girl who might not even get a job

Positive Outcomes of Female Education Delayed marriage and pregnancy Safer family practices Economic prosperity By educating girls about their rights, healthy family practices, and ways they can contribute to society, it gives them the opportunity to become more meaningful participants in their community and enables them to make informed choices regarding their sexual and reproductive health. Having girls go to school can also allow them to get married and start having children later in life, which can be safer for both the mother and the child (ex: fistulas) Cultures must overcome their gender biases and make female education a priority. Next, this issue needs to be addressed by governments. The enforcement of mandatory education for both boys and girls must occur in order for the nation to thrive.

Ways to get more girls in school Change the stigma around female education at a cultural & local level Have the government make school for all children mandatory Provide sanitary pads and toilets for girls going through menstruation Provide feeding programs Government would have to create legislation making education mandatory for all children This would have to be enforced at a local level and by the authorities Funding could be an issue

Conclusion Countries that repress women through lack of education are hindering their own progress by not tapping into the potential resources of roughly half their population. Action needs to be taken on: Local level (start with culture) National level (laws, enforcement, regulation) Education is one of the most critical areas of empowerment for women. Lack of female education is a crisis that carries high costs and needs to be addressed on multiple levels.

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