In 1929, Virgina Woolf wrote A Room of One’s Own, a fictional extended essay, which basically posited that if women had their own room, their own space where they were free to do as they please, there would be no limitations to what they could achieve. Maybe Shakespeare would be a woman. Who knows? The book follows Shakespeare’s equally, if not more, talented sister, who eventually ends up killing herself. All that talent is lost because she had no space of her own to let her creative juices flow.
Ironically, women have always had their own space, not of their freewill, but because of their biologies. Because of their bodies, throughout time women have been relegated to the domestic realm, while men have been free to roam the public arena, usually in order to make a living and financially support their families. Yes, women had their own space, however, they were not free to create masterpieces like men; they were expected to care for their children and keep house. Because of this, much potential female talent has been lost (or so claims Woolf).
While I would love to tell good old Virginia that women finally have this space—a space they choose and a space where they can develop their talents— sadly, I cannot say this is true for all women (the United States included, though we have come a long way in terms of women’s rights). Yesterday, when meeting at the women’s municipal office in Pastores where my group will be doing a mini practicum to get us ready for our real volunteering positions, the woman in charge of the women’s office told us of their main concerns. One was that in many public schools, there were no bathrooms for girls. In these same schools, boys also have their own fields to play on, and some even have art rooms or some extra space just for boys.
No girls allowed.
While to the average person this may not seem like a big deal, let me share some of the ramifications with you. No bathrooms for girls means that many girls will not be willing to go to school (in fact I can assure you that enrollment rates for female students here is LOW, to say the least), especially pubescent girls, who are menstruating. Results: ill-educated women, lower rates of literacy, probably higher incidents of health and hygiene problems because women will not have a good basic education, and when they have their own children this may leak into the way they care for their children and themselves. It may even affect their own children’s education.
Lesson 1: education for women is essential for development, and even more, the right to a basic education is a basic human right. Lesson 2: every one has a right to an equal education, regardless of sex, age, race, etc., Lesson 3: Sadly, this is not the case everywhere, and I mean everywhere.
Imagine how much potential talent we have lost so far...what a sad, sad thought.
Amen Sista! You fight for that girl's bathroom! So proud of you :)
ReplyDeletebut *should* everyone really have a right to an equal education?? That is a bit presumptuous, don't you think? Studies have shown that society, as a whole, is more productive when one partner works and the other is a homemaker (see "It's about time: couples and careers" ed by Phyllis Moen). This is because one can dedicate themselves fully to their work and the other can dedicate themselves to raising productive children and maintaining a household. When both parents work, they are both spread too thin and, combined, aren't able to be as productive as one dedicated worker. Additionally, if both parents work, there is no one at home to raise the children to become productive adults (not to mention the strain on family morale...see: "Time together among dual-earner couples" by Kingston and Nock). Lower productivity means slower development as a society.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying that it should be women who are forced to stay at home, but it has often been the more logical choice given their closer connection to the children.
I am not saying that both parents should work, or one should stay home with the kids, etc. I am just saying that if someone wants a BASIC education, they should be able to attain this regardless of sex, or anything else. My mom was a homemaker, and a pretty damn good one at that. I am grateful that she was always there for me when I needed her. However, she also was able to pursue her education and she has a Masters degree. She made an educated decision to stay at home with us. She and my father had a dialogue about this decision, and at the end, It was her choice to stay at home and raise us. Basic education (and higher education) allows people options. That is all I am saying. And there are many studies to back this up. My post had nothing to do with whether or not one parent should stay at home. The point was everyone should be able to pursue a basic education if that is what they want. Additionally, if the Homemaker (regardless of sex) does have a basic education level, studies have shown that the health and well-being of their children will be greater as opposed to say, homemaker parents that can't read/write/aren't aware of proper hygiene practices. Thus, in my humble opinion, education is important, and yes, everyone SHOULD have the right to an equal BASIC education (basic meaning, literacy skills, hygiene and health knowledge, etc., not quantum physics here people. just Basic education)
ReplyDeleteHi Noor, clearly you are talking about basic education and the right for children around the world, whether male or female, to participate in attaining an education if they should so desire. You are right, education is not always valued or desired for some depending on what region of the world you are in. Mostly this falls within the realm of educating girls. It is important for everyone to have a basic education because without it how would societies move forward if the masses cannot read, write, or understand the issues that surround their lives. After all information is power! Why should boys and girls not have equal access. Something as small as not having male and female bathrooms is sad when it prevents girls from going to school. School should be a safe place for all, and both girls and boys should feel valued and supported.
ReplyDeleteWhen looking at parents, I would agree that having a parent at home with children would be ideal, but as we all know most families do need two incomes to get by. Not only that, but one cannot quote studies that use samples from middle class participants. For one, middle class families might have more wealth and resources to get by on one income in comparison to lower income families. That and only using a certain demographic sample is not generalizable to different populations, let alone different cultures.
But when it comes down to it, you were never talking about couples/parents and how working or not working affects children or a family unit.If I'm correct, you were talking about basic education and how important it is to have equal access to education for all children. Men and woman both have gifts to offer their communities and if one gender is being overlooked than everyone loses. There will be people that will never meet or even know their potential because they were never given the opportunity to develop their intellects. Boys and girls need to be nurtured. And yes, it is sad to think of how many contributions may never be made to our society if females are not educated here, there, or everywhere!
So no it is not presumptuous to believe that everyone deserves an equal and basic education, it's a beautiful ideal and goal. Even the UN believes that basic education is a universal human right! What may be presumptuous is for someone to think that you are talking about couples/parents and how working impacts families and societies when in reality you are talking about education, or really the need for education.
Sadly I never once read anything in this blog entry about you expressing anything other than education and its importance to all people everywhere in this world. After all without education how could we understand one another, accept one another, and love one another. Education opens our eyes and makes us realize that there are possibilities out there.