Bridging the Gender Gap through Gender Difference: Aiding Patriarchy in South Sudan Education Reconstruction

Tranformation of a health sciences postgraduate population (2008-2017) at a higher education institution in South Africa: Has this occurred?

“…In the US and Saudi Arabia, in fields such gastroenterology, surgery and urology, the lack of senior female role models is reported as being one of the critical factors for under-representation of females in health sciences, as females may prefer a female mentor due to "identification and understanding" (Hill et al 2015;Alwazzan and Rees 2016;Mayer et al 2017;Woodward et al 2017). In addition, the differences in the nature of challenges faced by females from rural and urban Black African societies has been cited as a possible barrier in sub-Saharan Africa (Munene and Wambiya 2019). Rural females faced with socio-economic challenges and stringent cultural practices such as male chauvinism are less likely to access schooling than their urban counterparts from well developed areas with liberal cultural practices (Munene and Wambiya 2019;Chege and Arnot 2012;Mukudi 2017;Shabaya and Konadu-Agyemang 2004) and hence they do not enrol for higher degrees.…”

“…In addition, the differences in the nature of challenges faced by females from rural and urban Black African societies has been cited as a possible barrier in sub-Saharan Africa (Munene and Wambiya 2019). Rural females faced with socio-economic challenges and stringent cultural practices such as male chauvinism are less likely to access schooling than their urban counterparts from well developed areas with liberal cultural practices (Munene and Wambiya 2019;Chege and Arnot 2012;Mukudi 2017;Shabaya and Konadu-Agyemang 2004) and hence they do not enrol for higher degrees. Thus, socio-economic and cultural differences may be a barrier, preventing Black African female students from rural areas from enrolling in postgraduate studies at institutions such as Wits.…”

Gender equality and the effectiveness of primary education in Katosi town council, Mukono district in central Uganda

“…Gender equality is the view that men and women should receive equal treatment, and should not be discriminated against based on gender, unless there is a sound biological reason for different treatment (Bekana, 2020). Gender equality is understood as measurable equal representation of women and men but does not suggest that women and men are the same, but that they have equal value and should be accorded equal treatment (Munene & Wambiya, 2019). The United Nations posits that empowering women is an indispensable tool for advancing development.…”

The ‘Demand Side’ of Child Marriage

“…Some of the efforts that were mentioned include the South Sudan's Women's Empowerment Network (SSWEN) and Partnership against Violence and Exploitation (PAVE), which commit to stopping child marriage in the areas of Juba, Yambio and Maridi, through promoting girls' school attendance (Hove and Ndawana, 2017: 9). Another example was a USAID-funded 'Gender Equity Through Education' project (Munene and Wambiya, 2019). Through its 'Women and Girls for Change (WG4C)' programme, Plan International spent €300,000 between 2017-19 (Plan International, 2019: 8) through child rights clubs, child-friendly spaces and educating communities on child rights and the impacts of child marriage (Plan International, 2019: 18).…”