The Gender Gap

It isn't just about the difference in compensation for men and women for the same job. Or about discriminatory hiring practices. Or about the glass ceiling.

This is more basic than that - about girls that don't have as much of a chance at education as boys. And the reasons for this anomaly are deeply rooted in poverty, survival, practicality, and economics.

UNICEF released a statement that "115 million children worldwide are missing out on an education - and most of them are girls." Full BBC article here.

excerpt:
Unicef executive director Carol Bellamy said: "Education is about more than just learning. In many countries it's a life-saver, especially where girls are concerned. A girl out of school is more likely to fall prey to HIV/Aids and less able to raise a healthy family."

Afghanistan and Pakistan have the widest gender gaps. For Pakistan to have the same number of girls as boys in school by 2015, it would have to increase girls' school attendance by more than 3% each year. In eastern and central Europe, there is cause for concern too. The introduction of fees for tuition, schoolbooks and uniforms has led to rising drop-out rates - and girls drop out sooner than boys.

I'm not sure about Ms Bellamy's comment regarding schooling as the definitive way to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. There are many paths to this problem, including educating the adults, not just the young. A society's view towards sexually-transmitted diseases is not easily altered just by teaching its young in the schoolhouse about unsafe sex, but it could start a shift towards a generation that is more aware of the perils around it, maybe even develop a mindset that is more open to other methods of cure and control. Ms Bellamy's method could take generations to get to its results, and the epidemic may not give her enough time.

But she is right about the root of the problem - girls are not receiving as much education as boys. I grew up in a society where schooling is not compulsory (as recently proven by an interesting dinner chat with a schoolteacher), but commonly available and more often than not, taken for granted. There is only one generation between those that were lucky to have finished secondary education, and those that keep adding alphabets after their last name. Broadly available government-subsidized education has produced batch after batch of Singaporean students that slowly but surely look beyond its borders to put their highly-educated minds to good use.

That being said, there are hints that Singaporeans are still living in a gendered world. Here is some food for thought:

Here in Singapore, when Community and State take precedence over Self, female babies must grow up with the burden of being wife, mother and caregiver. Women rebels - those who opt not to become mother or caregiver - are made to feel guilty in spite of their achievements in other sectors.. male babies are not exempt either. ... For as long as Amir is the strong one and Amira is the pretty one, both will be locked in roles that restrict their freedom to make choices for themselves, their families and society.
- Dr. Suzaina Kadir, Asst Prof of Political Science, National University of Singapore, contributing to "Her Story".

I've made it a point in my life to bust as much of the stereotypical roles as I can, but I think any career woman knows there are times when hiding behind these caricatures can sometimes be a bit of a respite from the constant fight to prove your own worth. Reading these two pieces today has got my mojo going and the battle continues.

On to lighter topics: IZ Reloaded continues to have the coolest links to Star Wars stuff, most recently, a Lego rendition of Anakin Skywalker's story...