I thought this chapter was a tiny bit of fresh
air in comparison to previous topics because it shows that there is hope to
solving major issues women face.
Education is a critical component in improving the lives of not just
women but their families as well. I
thought it was interesting that women were more likely to use their education
to get a good job and reinvest their earnings into their families whereas men
would keep the money for themselves.
It was disheartening to read about
the shortcomings in school systems abroad and considering how little attention
is given to changing the education system in America I can’t imagine things
improving there. It is important that
the government and community put an emphasis on the importance of education
because there is a mountain of research and examples that show how education (especially
of girls) leads to lower birth rates, healthier children, an improved economy,
etc.
Something
in particular that I found interesting was learning about the Oportunidades
program in Mexico. We had discussed
previously in class how bribing parents to keep their children in school by
paying them or providing school uniforms showed success and this program
supported that idea. I found a short
youtube video that reiterates how it has been successful. I think it’s a great program because it
breaks the poverty cycle. Its critical
that people in poverty are given the tools to improve their lives and not just
a quick-fix like free food every once in awhile. Do you think this type of approach works well
in fighting extreme poverty? What other
methods have seen success?
I found this video very interesting. I think that if everyone would adapt a system like this than everyone could fight for better education in the world, and possibly fighting against poverty. I like the idea how the government helps and the classroom sixes have been increasing. I found it interesting that this has been adapted in New York. I didn’t know that New York needed help but I guess that helps to show us that there are places that need our support that we don’t know about or we think they are fine.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this approach to educating everyone (especially women) and their families, and all the positive outcomes that go along with it. I believe that if people are given the opportunity and the resources needed to help them keep their children in school, then they are more likely to take that opportunity. I think that this approach would definitely help to break the poverty cycle. There is so much work that needs to be done here and abroad to better our school systems, but I believe programs such as the one you talked about are a start to helping everyone have at least some kind of access and opportunity to get an education.
ReplyDeleteI agree I felt like I was taking a break to of horrible information and learning about education. I do not know if i agree with school making lower birth rates because there will always be children have children. In order to do that they need to push sex education because not everyone goes to it. I do agree eduction leads to healther children because their brains will develope more and be more educated.
ReplyDeleteYes this chapter certainly was a breath of fresh air compared to the previous chapters. I also found this chapter to be, in some ways, related to my regional paper in which I focused on Rwanda and Education. Lack of education in impoverished countries seems to have a very strong correlation with gender inequality. The question in the beginning of the semester was, what can we do to help discriminated and abused women? The question at the end of the semester will be, What is the best way to educate people about the importance of gender equality.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely was a relief to see a good story in the book after everything we have read! I thought it was sad as well that men would use the money for themselves instead of sending their child to school but it was a relief to hear that the women would invest in them instead of keeping the money as well. The program in Mexico was awesome! I really liked how someone though it this instead of just letting girls drop out of school It might work well in poverty because then the girls would want to get an education and the parents would be willing to send them to get an education.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this chapter and your video...thank you for sharing! Like Roger, this chapter related to my regional paper as I focused on the struggles that Mexican women face, one of those being lack of education. This chapter and video really hit home for me as I see a lot of my heritage in both. Both of my parents came to the U.S. from Mexico. My mom attended school through the fifth grade; she tells me how much she enjoyed it but for the sake of working and contributing to the household, had to quit before reaching the secondary level. She and my dad married young (18 and 21) and they raised what many consider to be a "typical" Mexican family...that being, large (1 son and 8 daughters)! This chapter and video made me really wonder as to how their lives would have been different had a program such as Oportunidades been in place during their era. I imagine that the course of their lives as well as my siblings would have been changed by this program and especially my life...would I even be here?? I was the last born!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think you make a great point that it's difficult to see the glass "half full" when our own education system is suffering from lack of funding. I found a website called The Learning Curve (http://thelearningcurve.pearson.com/) that I've found to be a great resource for many of these topics. The project/website aims to share data and conclusions "to help researchers and policymakers identify the common elements of effective education" through global comparisons.
ReplyDeleteI agree that education can and should be used to help solve many of the problems the women we have been talking about have faced. Keeping them in school means they are less likely to be in unsafe areas. It also prevents them from going to go find a job, the being taken into captivity and/or sold. I especially like the idea of supplying the children with school uniforms to keep them in school. It means one less excuse for parents to pull them out of school. It also can give them self confidence in themselves, as they will be good enough to wear the same uniform as everyone else in their school.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the video, too. I think it's great that these students are getting an opportunity to get to go to school. I thought it was interesting where it said that women would use their money for jobs and to benefit themselves, as men are more selfish with it. I think that's a great point and really reflects the differences between men and women in these countries.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that this chapter was a breath of fresh air compared to what we've been covering in class thus far, and the video you shared was really positive and enjoyable! Thanks! I also agree that education is a huge factor that should be implemented to help solve a lot of the problems we've covered in class. When they are in school they have a responsibility to be somewhere each day for an "x" amount of time. Which, in turn, keeps them safer and lessens the risk of them slipping into extremely negative situations. With them staying in school, they are more likely to get a a job in the future. Just like in this chapter, Dai Manju completed elementary school through an equivalent of accounting school, and she was able to not only find herself a job but in addition she was able to find her family members and friends job as well. It was nice to hear about her success and how far she went even to the point of starting her own company. Education should be an important part of every person's life, and it's great to read about the success of those who have worked hard and gotten to amazing places.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is "refreshing" to know there is some sort of approach to resolving major issues women face, but is defiantly not a permanent solution. I feel that there is not just one solution to every problem, but multiple solutions to one problem. Even thought this is a women's globalization class, I feel that the book "Half the Sky" should balance the perspective that women are not the only gender that is suffering and having economic issues. The concept of men struggling seems to fade into the background a lot. I found it interesting that women are more likely than men to give some of their money back to families and or the community. That was a shocking fact that I read for this weeks readings.
ReplyDeleteI believe that education can be an important component in individual's living standard, and even the development of the whole country. I also think that education system needs to be changed decades by decades, because the community is changing. However, I think it's impossible for education system to be totally changed in a certain amount of years. There should always be something changed and something kept. The government should invest a lot of money to help people in poverty to have equal opportunities to get education. In my opinion, I believe that education can help people get out of poverty.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with everything that you said. It is pretty interesting that males who make the money keep it to themselves usually, and women give some back to their families. That probably goes with the idea in these countries that men are worth more than women, and the idea that women shouldn't matter.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think the Oportunidades idea is brilliant and you're also right, it's amazing the way that it's worked out. Whoever thought of it was genius because it's breaking the poverty cycle and lack of education in one! I personally think that this is the best method to keep girls in school. I think every country that has a problem with girls and their lack of education should have this program available to them. It gives people an equal opportunity at finding a job and making money and I think that it would release the stigma in some countries of having a baby girl. What I mean by that is that as we have read, in some countries, mothers will kill their child if it is a girl because they don't think that girls are of any importance, but I think that if they knew of the Oportunidades program they would keep their child alive and the girl would have an equal shot at life.
The only problem that I can see with the program would be the parents using their child for money. I'm sure in most cases this wouldn't happen but I can imagine that some families would only keep their child so that they could get money, and then what if the child was treated bad at home? Just an idea, I'm not sure that this would happen, but it's the only problem that I could think of happening. Other than that, thumbs up to this method, it is a very smart idea.
Yes, I must agree this was a more of refreshing chapter based off the previous chapters and education is a very important thing for people in general. Not just girls and women, but I can see why many women may believe they don't need to be educated if they will have to work for the rest of their lives for their family and husband.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the video you posted in the blog. I love seeing programs that help people but also require something. Making the parents send the kids to school, check ups, and also attend classes themselves is showing them that help can't come for free. It helps teach and show responsibility to these families. I don't like that our government gives out so much for free when people aren't working for it. I could go on and on with examples of this but a huge one I have is why do you have to be drug tested for a job but not to get government assistance?
ReplyDeleteI agree that education is a huge factor towards the prevention of the sickness that is poverty, but as we've seen worldwide these past few years, education means nothing when there are no employment opportunities. I made the decision to return to college, for more education, after being unemployed for two years. I was continually told that I was over qualified for positions and would leave interviews feeling defeated.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are the exception, I am much high educated than he is, but this serves no purpose without societal action towards equal pay and opportunity. We met while working for the same company with almost exactly the same seniority (he was hired two weeks before me), yet he was paid only two cents less than me in spite of my holding a position three classes higher than him with the company.
Education leads to prosperity only if there is a society there to embrace that knowledge and skill.
Education is the key. It has proven to work and help people with financial opportunities and in getting medical care. I read in another article online saying that women were more likely to share their earnings with the family whereas men were to likely keep most of it to themselves. I think by this point that men have been in charge and in power (in these other countries) where its just a dominance issue and it doesn't matter what they do for the family or what they don't do, the women have learned to keep their mouths shut. so they've never been threatened by women or challenged. I do agree that this chapter was more positive and helped see hope. Once you learn about all the negative you start to learn about what people are doing to help and solve the issues. It too is an educational opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how education alone can get people out of poverty and financial bind? I believe education is very important,in the sense of learning a skill to open up opportunities for yourself and to make money. Also, having access to resources and wealth is what I understand,for one to be removed of poverty.
ReplyDeleteI liked this video and the way the mom, even though uneducated, made it a priority that her children received an education. If the bridge could/would be rebuilt then our next generation of children will have a chance at success. I don't only mean book smarts but educated in all aspects of life. I took a class and the main focus was building a sustainable community, the main factor in building was a sound education and putting to good use in your community the skills you have mastered.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is really ironic that when men are educated they spend less on themselves, but in some cases women are seen as less important to a family. Like the sex selective abortions in India. My research paper for this class was on India and I find it interesting that women are more likely to take care of their families with their education rather then men, but me are so idolized.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this video Roberta! There have been similar incentives offered to parents/families in the US, but since education is locally controlled here, it really depends on the state or even school district to offer these things, not the federal government. We will be talking about employment opportunities in the next couple weeks, because as both Denaro, Stephanie, and other pointed out, this is the other key. We nee to be empowering women to seek or create employment opportunities as well as education.
ReplyDeleteI also found that it was interesting to read that women are more likely to use their education to get a good job and use their money on their family but men would rather keep the money for themselves. That really frustrates me! I just don't understand how women in other countries are so under appreciated and put on a lower pedestal than everyone else yet they are the ones who are wanting to support their families! They have their families best interest at heart. I think it is very interesting that bribing parents to keep their children in school by paying them or providing school uniforms was effective. I think it is great that there is something being done to get more children enrolled in schools.
ReplyDelete