What Education Means For Girls in Developing Nations

As privileged Americans, we often forget the struggles confronting people in other countries. We are fortunate enough to live in a country where we have constant access to clean water, where women have the same right to education and where we need not worry about overcoming discriminatory class systems. However, these problems still affect many people in developing countries, especially women.

In various countries of South America, Africa and parts of Asia, women are deposed to marry men twice their age before they are 18 years old. According to the Girls Not Brides Foundation, for example, 30% of girls in Chad are married before the age of 15 (2018). However, marriage with young women is only the first step towards a long series of discrimination for these young women. After the marriage, young girls become pregnant, some at the age of 15.

If the girl survives the birth, there is a possibility that she has to sell her body to earn extra money for the childcare costs. This terrible way of working causes many women to contract sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and AIDS. Although this scenario may seem hypothetical and extreme, this is the reality faced by many girls in developing countries. The chain of discrimination continues only when the children of these girls grow up in uneducated and poor families and eventually follow the paths of their mothers.
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However, there is a way to fix this problem. By educating women in developing countries, women receive the resources needed to become capable persons. Training women qualifies them for more job opportunities so that they can ultimately achieve economic independence. With economic independence, girls no longer have to be sold to foreign men to make sure they are dressed and fed. Women have the opportunity to decide if they want to marry and start families, ultimately preventing a cycle of abuse for the rest of their lives.

By providing more educational opportunities for women, they will not only be able to feel empowered and prevent abusive cycles, but will also make progress in underdeveloped countries. The education of women gives them the skills to become productive members of society and to contribute to the economic development of the country. No wonder these countries find it so difficult to make progress when half of their population does domestic and agricultural work. We must give women the power to make a difference in their communities, cities and countries so that they can help create a better future for the entire country.

It is time we did something to help. Organizations such as The Girl Effect and Circle of Sisterhood are actively working to counteract this abuse cycle by raising awareness of women's issues in developing countries. These organizations collect donations to provide girls with school supplies and build schools for women only. Although these projects may sound expensive, developing country schools are far simpler than the schools we see in America and often require very small sums of money to finance schools. As women with higher education, we must recognize our privilege. Our typical morning dilemma wakes up early enough to get into class, while many young girls in developing countries face the dilemma of waking up next to strange men. Education in America empowers women and gives women the opportunity to become independent. Some women are less fortunate simply because of the place where they were born. It is time for us as women to recognize our privilege and take active steps to help other women. It is time for empowered women to empower women.