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WYATT, K. (1991) |
Determinants of Gender Disparity in |
Annotations
ACKER, S. et al (1984) World Yearbook of Education 1984: Women and
Education, Kogan Page, London.
The articles on gender and education in this collection cover both developed and
developing countries but there are useful case-studies on Jamaica (Hamilton and Leo-
Rhynie), Malaysia (Fatimah Hamid Don), Egypt (Cynthia Nelson), and India (Carolyn
Elliott). Two more general articles on aspects of gender and education in developing
countries are particularly interesting. Maxine Molyneux, writing in 'Strategies for the
emancipation of women in Third World socialist societies', (p. 268-278), shows how
women's legal, economic and social position has been improved in socialist states such
as China, Cuba, Democratic Yemen or Soviet Central Asia, even though they have not
yet attained full equality with men. Where a state is committed to planned economic
development and there is a comparatively high level of social welfare, employment
opportunities for women are more likely to be developed. However, "For socialist
states, the emancipation of women is not so much a goal in itself but is, rather, pursued
chiefly insofar as it contributes to the achievement of the wider goals of economic
development and socialist reconstruction", (p. 270). The pre-revolutionary social order
is seen by socialist states as an obstacle to economic development and social reform.
They see women's importance in the period of social and economic transformation as
helping to achieve three goals
- to extend political support
Women need to be drawn into political activity so that, politicised, they
will cooperate in the process of social transformation. Their politicization
challenges ancient customs and carries the revolution into the heart of the
family.
- To increase and improve the labour supply
Once familial constraints are eased, women form a large reserve of
potential employees or voluntary workers.