Both Kerala and Finland have made notable achievements in the realm of literacy: Kerala has one of the highest rates in the developing world and Finland ranks first in literacy among developed countries. Both also share a cultural history of granting women a high status in their respective societies. Using Kerala and Finland as examples, this…

In this article, the author starts by introducing three women from the Pacific whose lives illustrate the main points she addresses. She then discusses why place and gender matter in issues concerning the environment. Lastly, she touches on the implications of gender on environmental education.

Two books acknowledge the importance of education in empowering African women and girls, both socially and economically, but differ from the dominant discourse by delving into locally grounded investigations of the dynamics that influence girls' access to education, outcomes, and the nature of the empowerment that education accords them. The scope…

In many developing countries, girls have a lower quality of life than boys. Gender disparities exist before birth and become wider through the school-age and adolescents years. Discussion held at the Sixth International Forum of the Association for Women in Development (AWID) and the findings derived from them served as a catalyst for further…

Women's literacy rates have improved in nearly all countries for which data are available. However, discrimination in access to education starts in early childhood and tends to continue throughout women's lives. Reproductive, productive, and community roles are considered family responsibilities to be assumed by women. Because these activities…

One of the long-standing priorities of the international community is to reduce gender disparity in developing countries. Yet, the overall picture is still gloomy: women continue to be excluded from access to resources and employment and are denied basic human rights. This Policy Brief explains why progress has been so minimal and what should be…