Education for Girls and Women in India and the USA

By Uzma Siddiqui

Education plays a great role in everyone’s life by building personality, improving knowledge and skills. Education ascertains our career goals and teaches us to live in a more civilized manner. Female education is necessary for society because mothers are the first teachers of children, first teachers of the future citizens of the country. But in certain countries, like India, it is very difficult for a girl to get an education. Unlike in rural India, education for women in the United States is not a major concern.

India

In India, it is much more difficult for girls to get an education, when compared to boys. Parents pay less or no attention the education of their daughters because of the fear of teasing, communal threats, sexual harassment and abuse at an early age, being forced to follow the orders of elders in the family, the lower socio-economic status of the parents, and many social restrictions and taboos. In addition to all these, many parents view education for girls as a waste of money because daughters will in due course live with their husband’s family, and parents will not benefit directly from their education. Also, daughters with higher levels of education will likely have higher dowry expenses as they will need a comparably educated husband. However, education sometimes lowers the dowry for a girl because it is viewed as a benefit for the husband’s family

Times are never the same, things always change. Efforts are being made to educate girls. Programs are being run to educate women. Single sex schools for girls are being formed.

United States

In contrast to India, the United States had different reasons for ascribing a lesser amount of importance to the education of girls. Occupational choices were limited to four categories: secretarial, nursing, teaching, or motherhood. Women in the United States could not attend colleges or universities until 1848.

Nevertheless, the education system for women is getting better in India and the United States has achieved equal education rights for women.

Now society is witnessing a change in the title role status of women. More emphasis is placed on the education of girls. Modern-day parents want to fulfil the aspirations of their children without discriminating.