Growing up in the tender care of my mother, Amina Begum, I personally witnessed the tremendous strength and stamina of women. My mother was illiterate but her understanding and wisdom were the pillars of my education and ideology. Her inspiration instilled within me a deep sense of the power of education, especially for women. Today, I firmly believe that education is no longer merely a means of knowledge acquisition but a feasible tool of equality and woman empowerment.
The Transformative Power of Education.
Education enables women beyond the classroom. It inspires them to make independent decisions, enables them to provide for themselves and is bold enough to go against convention. If a woman is educated, she is not just a ray of hope for her family but also for society. As they say, When you educate a woman, you educate a generation.
I often recall the way my mother’s wisdom, without her education, dominated our household. She managed money, made key choices, and kept our family intact through trying times. This taught me how much better she might have been if she were educated. She would have had more chances, more choices, and perhaps an even greater voice in the world.
Why Education is the Key to Equality.
Economic Self Sufficiency: Education provides women with training and qualification to find jobs. This economic self sufficiency helps them support their families, pay into the economy and become economically independent. My mother’s economic know how, which she had acquired through sheer experience alone, was impressive. But imagine how much more she could have achieved with formal training.
Health and Well being: Educated women are more likely to make healthy, well informed decisions for themselves and their children. They stand better chances of understanding healthcare, diet and hygiene, thus healthier children and communities. Personally, in my role as a teacher, I have seen how educated mothers take full interest in the education and healthcare of their children and play a fantastic positive role towards their upbringing and development.
Leadership and Participation: Educated women are better placed to participate in family and societal decision making. They can speak up, express dissent in the face of injustice, and reject change. My mother, though with minimal formal education, always stood firm on matters of principle. Her voice was commanding within our home, but I believe that education could have positioned her even more strongly outside our home.
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: The best way to break the cycle of poverty is through education. Educated mothers are likely to invest more in their children’s education, and this multiplier effect can bear fruit for generations to come. That is what I have learnt as a son but also as a teacher. I see the difference in those families where the mothers are educated compared to where they are not.
Issues Faced by Women in Pursuing Education.
Despite the indisputable benefits, most girls and women still face major obstacles to education. They are cultural values, early marriage, economic hardship, and insecurity. There are still communities that consider education for a girl as an alternative where the allocation of resources is directed towards sons and not daughters. This not only hinders the progress of girls but also stifles the potential of communities.
In my line of work, I have had girls who could not pursue further education because of pressures from society. Some were withdrawn from school to assist around the house, while others were forbidden from attending school. It is disheartening to realize that talented young minds are being eclipsed by circumstances that they cannot control.
The Role of Men in Empowering Women.
Empowering women through education is not only a women’s issue. Men must be involved in advocacy and support as well. As a son, husband, father, and teacher, I see the vital role men can be in gender equality. We have to be allies, breaking stereotypes and creating spaces that are conducive so women and girls may rise.
I see that all the activities have boys and girls playing equal parts, with regard for each other. I mention women achievers to them, and I tell them how education can be an opening for a brighter future independent of gender.
Success Stories, A Glimpse of Hope.
I have witnessed education change lives through the experiences of my students. There was a girl from a village in the rural area whose parents were not so keen on her going to school at first. They let her continue after persistent counselling. She is now in college, becoming a teacher herself. Her experience is not only her achievement but a triumph for her family and community.
It puts me in mind of how different my mother’s life would have been if she had undergone formal education. She would have, with her own wisdom and intellect, been in a position to make an even greater impact through education.
A Call to Action, How We Can Make a Difference:
All of us are committed to empowering women through educating them. We as parents must take care that we provide education for our sons as well as our daughters. As teachers, we have a commitment to provide a secure and motivational learning place. As members of society, we should champion policies that endorse girls’ education and barriers elimination.
For the rest of us who have been fortunate enough to benefit from education, assisting others in the process is our civic duty. If in the manner of mentoring, scholarship, or simply the praise, the cause is served. Towards a Better Tomorrow.
Education is not merely a ticket to a job but a road to empowerment. In empowering women through education, we are creating a world where equality is not a dream but reality. My mother, Amina Begum, may not have attended school, but her courage and knowledge endure. Through my work, I hope to pay her tribute by inspiring the next generation of women and girls to live independent, assertive, and meaningful lives.
On this Women’s International Day, let us take a pledge to break the shackles of disparity through education. Let us liberate every girl child and provide every woman with her voice. For when women thrive, we all thrive.
(Writer is a Teacher, Author, and Columnist. Hails From Boniyar Baramulla and can be reached at [email protected])
