“Education is not a way to escape poverty – It is a way of fighting it.”
–Julius Nyerere, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania
–Julius Nyerere, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania
Basic Facts about Tanzania
- Located in East Africa
- Population of about 48,261,942
- Approximately 68% of the population over the age of 15 can read and write
- Capital is Dar Es Salaam
- The Tanzanian flag is pictured to the left
Education is vitally important, but it is too costly for many Tanzanians.
This video shows that education in Tanzania is improving.
The Problem
According to the United Nation Girls' Education Initiative, there are multiple barriers to a quality education for girls:
According to the United Nation Girls' Education Initiative, there are multiple barriers to a quality education for girls:
- Conducive learning environments – including girl-friendly facilities, such as sanitary latrines and clean water – are in short supply.
- Child marriage and pregnancy prevent girls from finishing school. Pregnant students are often expelled, the pregnancy considered to be ‘their fault’.
- Gender-biased socialization in school is prevalent, with girls often being called upon by teachers to perform such duties as fetching water. This reinforces gender stereotypes and takes time away from learning.
- Despite the abolition of school fees, parents are often unable to meet other costs, posing a significant challenge for the retention of enrolled students.
- Girls traditionally serve as caregivers and are burdened when AIDS strikes a family, preventing daughters from regular school attendance.
As you can see, girls do not have the same opportunities for a good education as boys do. This is unfair to the girls and affects them for the rest of their lives. It also affects the lives of their children; studies show that children who are raised by educated mothers are more likely to become educated themselves. The best way to equality is to educate everyone, regardless of their gender.
Our project focused solely on the women and girls of Tanzania, but it is a common problem throughout the world. Educating girls is not a priority for many countries, though that is starting to reverse. The girls of wealthy families can usually receive a good education because their family can pay for it, but that does not help the girls of poorer families who cannot afford an education for their daughter. As the girl grows up without an education, she is more likely to spend her life in poverty, thus not being able to afford an education for her daughter. Sons usually get an education because the male figure is seen to be more worthy of a good education, where the females will marry the educated male.
Other Efforts
Tanzania: Globally:
Tanzania: Globally:
Why is this important? Why should we care about the education of girls on the other side of the world?
In the U.S., girls getting an education is completely normal. But in many parts of the world, girls do not have that opportunity. We can help change that! There are lots of ways to get involved: donating money, volunteering, and raising awareness for this issue are all great ways to improve the chances that these girls can have.
Why is this a problem for feminism?
If you are focused on gender injustice, this is a prime example. The boys definitely have priority when it comes to education, while the girls often do not get that prioritization. So if you're looking to make the world a more gender-equal place, this is a good opportunity for you to help.
In the U.S., girls getting an education is completely normal. But in many parts of the world, girls do not have that opportunity. We can help change that! There are lots of ways to get involved: donating money, volunteering, and raising awareness for this issue are all great ways to improve the chances that these girls can have.
Why is this a problem for feminism?
If you are focused on gender injustice, this is a prime example. The boys definitely have priority when it comes to education, while the girls often do not get that prioritization. So if you're looking to make the world a more gender-equal place, this is a good opportunity for you to help.
Some thoughts...
"As the cageness of the birdcage is a macroscopic phenomenon, the oppressiveness of the situations in which women live our various and different lives is a macroscopic phenomenon. Neither can be seen from a microscopic perspective. But when you look macroscopically you can see it--a network of forces and barriers which are systematically related and which conspire to the immobilization, reduction and molding of women and the lives we live."
-Marilyn Frye, "Opression" (1983), from Women's Voices, Feminist Visions
"As the cageness of the birdcage is a macroscopic phenomenon, the oppressiveness of the situations in which women live our various and different lives is a macroscopic phenomenon. Neither can be seen from a microscopic perspective. But when you look macroscopically you can see it--a network of forces and barriers which are systematically related and which conspire to the immobilization, reduction and molding of women and the lives we live."
-Marilyn Frye, "Opression" (1983), from Women's Voices, Feminist Visions
Sources:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tz.html
http://africanpresidentialcenter.wordpress.com/tanzania/
http://www.toreturn.org/programs/education/
http://www.ungei.org/infobycountry/tanzania_158.html
Women's Voices, Feminist Visions by Susan M. Shaw and Janet Lee
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tz.html
http://africanpresidentialcenter.wordpress.com/tanzania/
http://www.toreturn.org/programs/education/
http://www.ungei.org/infobycountry/tanzania_158.html
Women's Voices, Feminist Visions by Susan M. Shaw and Janet Lee