Written by Nathan De Tracey
January 27, 2020
Before getting started, allow me to first address the proverbial elephant in the room. Yes, I am in fact a man writing for a blog concerning women’s issues, specifically relating to their access to education. Being a feminist, I consider myself extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to offer a male perspective on these issues, as I believe that feminism, by definition, should not be an exclusive practice any more so than the other “isms” that currently dot our socio-political landscape. Sadly, feminism has somehow increasingly come to have a negative connotation associated with fringe and radical elements of the movement, and this has greatly altered our perceptions about the movement, especially among men. This has taken away from the central message and aim of the feminist movement, which is empowering women and endowing them with the abilities and opportunities to pursue the same interests as men. These fringe actors represent the entirety of the feminist movement no more so than President Trump represents the entirety of the American people.
It would appear that, increasingly, labelling oneself as a “feminist” has unfortunately results in putting a target on one’s back, a risky move that may lead to one being considered a radical. This is a real shame. If you support women’s rights and equal access to such necessities and basics as opportunity, education, employment, and the like, you are by definition a feminist. I would wager that the vast majority of people today would fall under this categorization, as these issues have come to be increasingly normalized. This by no means implies that there is not much more work to be done. As mentioned before, the stigma that has arisen has also severely affected the way men interact with the movement, with many reticent to announce themselves as feminists out of fear of being considered less masculine, and ascribing to the more radical thought currents of the movement. This in turn limits the appeal of feminism for many men. Therein lies the issue I wish to bring forward; there must be a refocusing of the feminist movement on its core tenets, and away from the more radical interpretations that reduce the universality of the cause to turn people away. Support for the advancement of the inalienable rights of women are no cause for shame or fear, and a realignment and a central discourse about these rights would help reduce the barriers that we have created at the societal level. Every successful movement in history has cut across boundaries, and feminism must be next.
As a political science student at McGill University, I am very proud to say that in the majority of my classes I find more women than men. This arrival of a new generation of politically active and educated women can only mean great things for our future as a community. More female voices within our political discourse will only increase awareness of these issues, and generate real change. I am happy to see that girls are being told they can get involved in politics, that they are being told their word means something, and that that word is valid. In a field that was traditionally dominated by men, I find it amazing that my field is coming to encompass a wider range of opinions, and embracing a diversity of thought. Women are as much a part of the political process as men, and it is fantastic that this is being internalized and instilled in younger generations.
However, while this may be the case in our society, we are an exception to a very old, anchored, and widespread rule in the world we inhabit. Worldwide, only 39% of rural girls attend secondary school, a figure that only increases to 59% for urban girls (UN Women, 2018). This pales in comparison to the 45% of rural boys and 60% of urban boys that attend secondary school (UN Women, 2018). These figures do not take into account regional disparities, as they are worldwide average statistics that blend developing and developed countries’ statistics. Thus, the 39% of rural girls and 59% of urban girls that attend secondary school may be much lower in a developing country, which is quite a disconcerting prospect. As these countries are seemingly trapped in endless cycles of poverty and underdevelopment, it is important to note that, according to the United Nations, every additional year of primary school “[…] increases girls’ eventual wages by 10-20 percent” (UN Women, 2018). This also encourages them to marry later, have fewer children, and leave them less vulnerable to violence (UN Women, 2018). In a world that often seems to prize quantitative data as an efficient and impactful way of making an argument, it is undeniable that women and girls in developing countries must be encouraged and enabled to attend school for as long as possible to better their prospective futures, and to actually improve the overall quality of life in their countries. Again, as per the UN, the more income that is placed in the hands of women has the effects of improving child nutrition, health, and education (UN Women, 2018). If these countries are ever to break their cycles of poverty and underdevelopment, it would seem that unleashing the economic potential of over 50% of their populations by placing a greater emphasis on their education would be a step in the right direction.
Education is not simply about gaining knowledge to pass a test and gain employment. It is a way to expand our horizons, expose us to different ways of thinking, and shape well-rounded, motivated, and active citizens. While women’s education may be a norm in the North American context, it is important to continue to work to ensure that it remains a norm, and advocate for women in the developing world to gain this opportunity as well. If money truly walks, then I can find no better objective way to make the argument that women’s access to education is a goal that all should strive for, regardless of whether you are a man or a woman. This issue affects us all, and as members of this society, it is time to treat it as such.
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