Reflections on the 2018 GEM Report Gender Review: Accountability for gender equality in education

Marianna Bonanome, Co-director of the CUNY/UNESCO Partnership Program and Kate Linkins, Partnerships and Outreach Specialist, The Global Education Monitoring Team

On International Women’s Day, Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 9 am a group of us representing CUNY were invited to attend the 2018 GEM Report Gender Review at New York’s remarkable Scandinavia House. On the surface we seemed an odd assortment consisting of faculty, graduate students/Writing Across the Curriculum fellows and our undergraduate CUNY Youth Ambassador, however we were united in our interest in learning more about how gender issues play a role in education globally. Here we share some of our thoughts with you:

“After attending the launch of this year’s GEM Report Gender Review, I was struck by the complexity of factors that affect gender inequality in education. As an educator working in America, I have come to believe (naively, perhaps) that gender iniquities are an ideological issue that I can redress through inclusive, reparative teaching practices. How startling, then, to learn about the institutional barriers to equal education in developing nations! The statistic that stood out to me most was that ten percent of African girls miss class during menstruation because their schools lack same-sex bathrooms with feminine hygiene products. This troubling fact demonstrates that promoting gender equality is not merely a matter of pedagogy; rather, the creation of an accessible, safe, and equitable learning environment must be the imperative of educators, the local community and its leaders, and each nation’s civil servants.”

Samuel Gold, Graduate Student, English Literature, CUNY Graduate Center and Writing Across the Curriculum Fellow at City Tech, CUNY

“As academics cordoned off in our individual disciplines, we can sometimes lose sight of the unique connections among seemingly separate entities. When I attended the launch of UNESCO’s 2018 Gender Education Monitoring (GEM) report, I expected to learn about the current status of global gender equality in education and perhaps the obstacles interfering with UN 2030 sustainability goals. I was surprised, however, to learn about the sundry other topics that are deeply entangled with the questions of how to increase educational access and decrease gender disparity. For example, it would be difficult to hold this conversation without considering a country’s legal and policy standards, its resource distribution, and its gender norms, values, and attitudes. I was particularly interested to learn about the interactions among promoting educational attainment for women, particularly in STEM fields, and health / environmental outcomes. Tackling the global challenges of tomorrow will require an all-hands-on-deck approach. Women’s voices and contributions will be essential in addressing healthcare needs, promoting best practices in sanitation, improving water systems management, and engaging in agricultural work and research. The interconnectedness of education, health, water, sanitation and agriculture is an important reminder that none of us exists in our own silo. We are all highly dependent on intertwined systems and the organizations and people who manage them. It was reassuring to learn that there are accountability measures in place to help meet education sustainability goals so that we can recruit these educated women to keep our systems running.”

Yosefa Ehrlich, Graduate Student, Clinical Neuropsychology, CUNY Graduate Center and Writing Across the Curriculum Fellow at City Tech, CUNY

“Many statistics relayed to us at the GEM Gender Review launch were startling! Our perspective on gender in education had previously been narrowly focused to our world here as part of the New York education system. The review was eye opening and motivating. Issues facing women in education run the gamut from lack of same sex facilities in developing nations to lack of affordable childcare in developed nations. Becky Pringle, Vice President of the National Education Association (NEA) was one of the panelists at the Gender Review. She struck a cord with me when she told the story of her initial hesitation upon learning she would be the NEA Vice President. “Who will pick up my children from school and feed them dinner?” she asked herself. Friends in her community stepped up and filled in for her in this important childcare role. Without such support, Pringle, a qualified woman would not have been able to fill this leadership position. Many times I have had to choose between attending or conducting events which would forward my career and taking care of my children due to lack of support – financial and otherwise. It is no wonder that the percentage of women who begin in tenure track positions and achieve full professorship is a paltry percentage. It is also no wonder women are underrepresented in politics on all levels in all countries. So much of our struggle is rooted in the systemic and until these real logistical issues are recognized and addressed, not much can change. However, what can be immediately addressed lies at the personal level – we can all choose to care for and support each other just as Becky Pringle’s community did for her.”

Marianna Bonanome, Associate Professor, Mathematics Department, Co-director Opening Gateways Title V Grant, Co-director CUNY/UNESCO Partnership, Co-coordinator Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Program, City Tech, CUNY

“The GEM Gender Review launch made clear that a lot more still needs to be done if gender equality in education is to be reached.  I was glad to learn of all the organizations that are keeping track of whether or not progress is being made in different parts of the world.  It was interesting how one panelist linked internalized misogyny to harmful political outcomes.  Violence against girls who try to get an education was another difficult topic mentioned during the panel discussion—I left the event wanting to know more about how this problem was being dealt with and found some information in the GEM 2018 Report.  A point brought up by one of the panelists keeps coming to mind: boys need to be included in the conversation about equality.  Improving how everyone views one another is a critical kernel, so that in the future something as basic as using textbooks which show images of women in professional roles will no longer be met with resistance in certain countries.”
Anna Soo-Hoo, Graduate Student, French Literature, CUNY Graduate Center and Writing Across the Curriculum Fellow at City Tech, CUNY

 

Three weeks and counting

By Farjana Shati:

 

It has been almost three weeks since I have attended the United Nation 2018 Winter Youth Assembly at the UN headquarters in Manhattan, New York. As the weeks passed by, I found myself reflecting still on my jam-packed experiences at the Assembly. I still feel the excitement and uplifting and burning energy within me. I cherish the memories from my journey at the assembly and I have a feeling that I will keep coming back to those 3 February days for a long time!

What still resonates loudly today is meeting so many young delegates at once from all around the globe! I was most amazed that there were young delegates of all ages and the majority of the youth I had interacted with were high school students. Their stories inspired me and the impact they were already making towards a sustainable world was pleasantly shocking.  At the same, I found myself then, as I do now, asking why communities are not doing more to build a sustainable future? I am also asking myself the same burning question!

Of course, reality is quick to hit! I am after all, a full-time student and as soon as 2018 Winter Youth Assembly ended, I was struck by my course work and academic responsibilities. I also ended up getting sick, like most New Yorkers this season, but pushed and motivated myself to finish my assignments, portfolio, and study for my Calculus III exam. I knew that my commitment to be the CUNY  Youth Ambassador carried with it the expectation to to balance my school work and find ways to be a full-time student and a full-time Sustainable Development fan and advocate!

Which brings me to my signature project for 2018! My experience at the youth assembly has trigged many ideas to move forward with my project for the semester. I wanted to develop a project that will raise awareness and advocate involvement from the student body at my campus, City Tech. Initially, I was struggling to decide on what kind of activities I can facilitate to engage the student population on quality education and gender equality within the eight weeks remaining in the semester, but, my close work with the program directors Prof. ElHitti and Prof. Bonanome is shaping up my aspirations and I have started to take the first few steps in realizing my project, which I will write about in my next blog post. In the meantime, back to my Arabic homework, and to my flashbacks from the time I was actually at the General Assembly at the UN Headquarters!