According to a paper published in 1999 by the Cambodia Development Resource Institute, girls in this country are under-represented in formal education at all levels. Boys and girls enroll in schools in equal numbers, but the gender gap increases as the level of schooling rises. This phenomenon is related to direct costs, opportunity costs, and social attitudes towards gender roles. Especially among poor and rural households, the labor of all members of the household can be crucial for survival. Nonetheless, traditional gender stereotypes of men as breadwinners and women as housewives mean that girl's education is not prioritized.
This makes it harder for women to compete for professional and decision-making skills positions, which are also the jobs that command status and wealth. In addition to constraining women's life opportunities and choices today, the scarcity of women in such situations deprives the future generation of positive role models. The World Bank has identified female education as the best hope for breaking the cycle of female deprivation; but since the benefits are societal and the costs are private, there are few economic incentives for individuals to invest in girl's education.
The Harpswell Foundation tackles this incentive problem at the core- providing economic assistance, balancing traditional and modern gender roles, as well as presenting positive role models.
Published on Thursday, October 9, 2008 on http://www.harpswellfoundation.blogspot.com/
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