Laura Martinez - Education of Women in Underdeveloped Countries

The countries of our world have been divided by socioeconomic factors into developed, developing and least developed. Today there are 49 least developed, or underdeveloped, countries. An underdeveloped country is classified by factors such as its per capita gross domestic product, the lower levels of infrastructure, and standards of living for its citizens. A trend that can be seen in every underdeveloped country is the low level of education, especially for women. Consequently, this undervaluation of women has caused serious issues for the countries that take part in it. If you educate and empower women in underdeveloped countries there would be serious benefits worldwide. For example, there would be an increase in the GDP of that particular country which helps productivity while fueling economic growth (Global Partnership, 2013). By allowing women to receive an education, she is less likely to be married extremely young; she will have fewer and healthier children (Because I am a Girl, 2013). Despite the obvious benefits that will take place by introducing women in underdeveloped countries to a proper education, it has not been easy. In many cases it is not simply women of poor economic standing being unable to attend schooling. It is as well women and girls who have families with a good level of economic standing who are actually forbidden to attend school past a certain age. If society across the globe were to place more focus on educating women, it would create a domino effect- one that brings forth solutions for issues that have been around since the development of modern society.

Around the world, 1.4 billion people live on only about $1.25 per day. The minimum wage in Ontario is currently $10.25 and the average number of hours worked are 8, meaning the average person would earn $82 a day. This means that 1.4 billion people are only making 1.5% of what we do on an average work day, and 70% of these 1.4 billion people are women (Because I am a Girl, 2013). Globally, almost 61 million children are deprived of an education, with 36,600,000 of these children being girls (Alter). Studies show that for every year a woman stays in school, her income can increase by 15 to 25%. This would further increase the gross domestic product of a country by 3%, reducing the billion dollar loss that occurs when women are not educated to the same level as men are (Global Partnership). 

In places where women are uneducated standards of living are much lower, making basic necessities such as clean water and good health a privilege instead of the right it should be. When women control the family income, she is more likely to spend the money on food and children's needs, increasing the child's chances of survival by 20%. By having even a basic knowledge of mathematics, women now are properly equipped with the tools they need to manage the budget. In areas where diseases like HIV/AIDS are rampant, women need to be better educated on how they can keep themselves and their children safe, letting them focus more on food preparation and nutrition instead of taking care of terminally ill family members. Studies from Africa determined that mothers that spent five years in primary education have children that are 40% more likely to live past 5 years old (FAO). Educated mothers are more likely to be working, averaging fewer children and allowing them to pay more attention to each individual child. They are also less likely to have unplanned pregnancies, giving them a chance to better finance a fewer number of children leading to a higher level of education (UNFPA). 


Getting proper education to women in underdeveloped countries is not only difficult but sometimes even dangerous. In the case of Malala Yousafzai, it actually became deadly. Her father from a young age fought to be educated and then went on to create schools for boys and girls. Soon after, the Taliban came into Pakistan and enforced a very strict new way of life. By the end of 2008 they had destroyed 400 schools, and by January 14 2009 every single school for girls was permanently closed (Roberts). Upset by this, 11 year old Malala wrote on her blog, "They can stop me from going to school but they can't stop me learning." In May, her family joined the 2 million people fleeing the Swat valley. She then decided to become an advocate for education and children's rights, giving speeches and television interviews. Death threats were made repeatedly against her, and she eventually became the victim of an assassination attempt. On October 9 2012, a masked gunman shot her in the head after shouting "Who is Malala." A week later Malala woke up in a hospital in Birmingham, England. She is still a strong champion for education and human's rights, speaking against forced marriages and the denial of education. In March 2013 she was a serious contender for a Nobel Peace prize, and in October 2013 Malala and coauthor Christina Lamb released her memoir "I am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban."

The issue of education for women has been becoming more prevalent in modern society, with the "Because I am a Girl" campaign in full effect. With determination and a real thirst for change, the world can help women in underdeveloped countries reach their full, unexplored potential. 

Girls’ education. (n.d.). Because I am a Girl. Retrieved January 8, 2014, from http://becauseiamagirl.ca/girlseducation

Girls' Education. (2013, October 9).Global Partnership for Education. Retrieved January 8, 2014, from http://www.globalpartnership.org/our-work/areas-of-focus/girls-education-2/

Global Campaign for Education: United States Chapter. (n.d.). Learn the Issue: Education for Women and Girls. Retrieved January 8, 2014, from http://www.campaignforeducationusa.org/educating-girls-women-in-developing-countries

FAO Programme ::: Food security. (n.d.).Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved January 9, 2014, from http://www.fao.org/gender/gender-home/gender-programme/gender-food/en/

Empowering Women through Education: Promoting Gender Equality: UNFPA. (n.d.). Promoting Gender Equality. Retrieved January 9, 2014, from http://www.unfpa.org/gender/empowerment

Roberts, Y. (2013, October 13). I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai – review. The Observer. Retrieved January 9, 2014, from http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/13/malala-yousafzai-biography-taliban

Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani schoolgirl shot by Taliban, visits U.S.. (2013, October 11). CTVNews. Retrieved January 9, 2014, from http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/malala-yousafzai-pakistani-schoolgirl-shot-by-taliban-visits-u-s-1.1493853