In this blog we will be discussing Millennium Development Goal* (MDG) #3: promote gender equality and empower women. It will be focusing on the country of Afghanistan in Southern Asia.
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Gender Equality: Gender equality does not imply that women and men are the same, but that they have equal value and should be accorded equal treatment
Cambridge dictionary definition
Gender Equality: Gender equality does not imply that women and men are the same, but that they have equal value and should be accorded equal treatment
Cambridge dictionary definition
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How are they doing?
Girls enrollment in primary school has increased 27% from 1990-2013. They're close to reaching elimination of gender disparity in primary education. Women have gained a lot more representation within national parliaments; improving by 649%. However, women's share of wages has gotten worse by 4%.
Women in Afghanistan face many barriers such as child marriage (more than 50% are married or engaged by 12), lack of security from kidnapping and rape, lack of education, and few economic opportunities. One of the main problems women in Afghanistan faced was Taliban Rule; once defeated in 2001 significant improvements were made for women.
www.trustineducation.org/resources/life-as-an-afghan-women/
http://www.feminist.org/afghan/taliban_women.asp
How did they improve enrollment and representation?
www.usaid.gov/afghanistan/promote
Here is an example of a women's journey to representation:
http://beijing20.unwomen.org/en/news-and-events/stories/2015/5/woa-afghanistan-habiba-sarabi
Why did the wages go down?
Women's decrease in wages can be attributed to the differences in types of employment between men and women. They are not employed in higher up jobs that allow them to be paid more. Out of 100 people that are employed in a certain field, the men's employment percentage vastly outweighs the women's 90% to 10% on average.
http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4a7959272.pdf
Women and health
Maternal death and pregnancy related conditions cannot be eliminated without the empowerment of women. The empowerment of women is important in achieving gender equality and health equity. The education of girls in linked to improved health, social and economic status as well as positive outcomes for mother and child.
http://www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/gender/en/
Girls enrollment in primary school has increased 27% from 1990-2013. They're close to reaching elimination of gender disparity in primary education. Women have gained a lot more representation within national parliaments; improving by 649%. However, women's share of wages has gotten worse by 4%.
Women in Afghanistan face many barriers such as child marriage (more than 50% are married or engaged by 12), lack of security from kidnapping and rape, lack of education, and few economic opportunities. One of the main problems women in Afghanistan faced was Taliban Rule; once defeated in 2001 significant improvements were made for women.
www.trustineducation.org/resources/life-as-an-afghan-women/
http://www.feminist.org/afghan/taliban_women.asp
How did they improve enrollment and representation?
- Women's Leadership Development Program
- Women in Government Program
- Women's Rights Groups and Coalitions
- Scholarships Fund for Afghan Women
www.usaid.gov/afghanistan/promote
Here is an example of a women's journey to representation:
http://beijing20.unwomen.org/en/news-and-events/stories/2015/5/woa-afghanistan-habiba-sarabi
Why did the wages go down?
Women's decrease in wages can be attributed to the differences in types of employment between men and women. They are not employed in higher up jobs that allow them to be paid more. Out of 100 people that are employed in a certain field, the men's employment percentage vastly outweighs the women's 90% to 10% on average.
http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4a7959272.pdf
Women and health
Maternal death and pregnancy related conditions cannot be eliminated without the empowerment of women. The empowerment of women is important in achieving gender equality and health equity. The education of girls in linked to improved health, social and economic status as well as positive outcomes for mother and child.
http://www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/gender/en/
Question: What inhibits gender equality in Afghanistan?