And violence can occur at birth, like in places where female infanticide is known to persist. Hundreds of millions of girls worldwide are still subjected to child marriage and female genital mutilation – even though both have been internationally recognized as human rights violations. In times of both peace and conflict, adolescent girls face the highest risk of gender-based violence. Some 1 in 20 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 – around 13 million – have experienced forced sex. In its most insidious form, gender inequality turns violent.
Especially in emergency settings and in places where menstruation remains taboo, girls are cut off from the information and supplies they need to stay healthy and safe. Gender norms and discrimination heighten their risk of unwanted pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, and malnutrition. Among those who reach secondary school, girls tend to outperform boys in reading across every country where data are available.īut the onset of adolescence can bring significant barriers to girls’ well-being. Girls have higher survival rates at birth, are more likely to be developmentally on track, and are just as likely to participate in preschool. Yet, in early childhood, gender disparities start out small. Worldwide, nearly 1 in 4 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are neither employed nor in education or training – compared to 1 in 10 boys. As a result, nearly 1 in 4 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are neither employed nor in education or training – compared to 1 in 10 boys. Discriminatory teaching practices and education materials also produce gender gaps in learning and skills development. This happens for a variety of reasons: The safety, hygiene and sanitation needs of girls may be neglected, barring them from regularly attending class.
The majority of low-skilled and underpaid community health workers who attend to children are also women, with limited opportunity for professional growth.Īnd in schools, many girls receive less support than boys to pursue the studies they choose. Parents may assume unequal responsibility for household work, with mothers bearing the brunt of caregiving and chores. Girls and boys see gender inequality in their homes and communities every day – in textbooks, in the media and among the adults who care for them.