Global Perspectives on Women’s Rights, Education, and Gender Equality
Education is one of the necessary measures for growth and development in every society. When studying educational advances, factors including the expansion of educational resources, plans to increase the means for education, the educational system’s share of the public budget, society’s literacy rate, school dropout rates, facilities and services, and educational plans are mainly taken into consideration. By taking the above-mentioned factors into account, we can have a better understanding of women’s literacy and education.
Legal Frameworks and Constitutional Protections
It is necessary to examine the general outlook on women before reviewing performance in terms of women’s literacy. Article 20 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran clearly stresses human beings regardless of gender. It highlights human being’s equality in human, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Moreover, Article 21 specifically highlights the need to protect women’s rights by proclaiming that everyone should respect women’s rights. It states that the protection of these rights is one of the responsibilities of the administration and the governmental organizations of the country.
Another fundamental document that addresses women’s rights is the “The Charter of Women’s Rights and Responsibilities.” In the section on “education,” the document speaks of the following rights:
- Women’s right to benefit from good health (such as health in the working environment, etc.), information and the necessary means for education
- Women’s right to have access to public education and to benefit from educational betterment and various means of education
- Women’s right to benefit from higher education to the highest level
- Women’s right to acquire skills and expertise – both in numbers and in quality – at the highest levels
- Women’s right to benefit from educational privileges in underprivileged areas
- Women’s right to undertake responsibilities in preparing school materials and other educational materials
Global Perceptions of Gender Equality
Support for gender equality is strong around the globe. Across 34 countries surveyed by Pew Research Center, a median of 94% think it is important for women in their country to have the same rights as men, with 74% saying this is very important. Publics see more equity in access to a good education – a median of 81% believe men and women in their country generally have the same opportunities in this area.
However, at least four-in-ten think men generally have more opportunities than women in their country when it comes to getting high-paying jobs (a median of 54% across the 34 countries surveyed) and being leaders in their community (44%). When asked who has a better life in their country, a 46% median across the 34 countries surveyed say men do, while 15% point to women and 31% volunteer that neither men nor women have a better life.
Independent Travel and Mobility in the MENA Region
Perceptions of women's rights also extend to independent travel. Arab Barometer found that roughly 4-in-10 citizens across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) thought that a woman should be able to travel abroad independently. Attitudes in the region appear to have changed somewhat in recent years, with a 7-point increase in the proportion of people across MENA saying that a woman should be allowed to travel independently. Lebanese are the most supportive, while fewer than half in Egypt, Sudan, and Jordan say women should have this right.
Comparison of Support for Women’s Independent Travel
The following table illustrates the variation in support for a woman's right to travel abroad alone across different countries based on Arab Barometer surveys:
| Country | Percentage Supporting Independent Travel |
|---|---|
| Lebanon | 75% |
| Morocco | 64% |
| Algeria | 50% |
| Egypt | 39% |
| Sudan | 37% |
| Saudi Arabia (2010-11) | 37% |
| Jordan | 30% |
Leadership and Social Activity
The leaders and high-ranking officials have often stressed the necessity to provide the necessary infrastructures and opportunities for the growth and development of women in their individual lives and in social life. As stated in historical perspectives: "From the viewpoint of Islam, the field for women’s scientific, economic and political activities is completely open." Women can participate in different activities as much as their physical ability and needs allow. This special attention to women – specifically regarding their scientific and academic life – has led to tangible, noteworthy changes in the growth of their individual, social and scientific lives.