How does gender inequality affect girls’ education?

Overview:

1. Gender inequality keeps millions of girls out of school and limits their opportunities. Girls face barriers like poverty, violence, conflict and harmful stereotypes that make it harder for them to learn and stay in school.
2. When girls miss out on education, they face lifelong challenges in work, health and income. Gender inequality affects a girl’s future earning potential, health outcomes and ability to break free from poverty.
3. You can help girls overcome these barriers through World Vision Canada’s child sponsorship and community programs. Your support can give girls education, safety and the chance to build brighter futures.

What is gender inequality?

Gender inequality happens when people are treated unfairly because they are a boy, girl, man, woman or individuals of other gender identities. This means some people do not get the same chances, rights or resources as others. These differences often come from cultural beliefs, societal rules or systems that have existed for a long time. Gender inequality can affect everyone, but it often harms girls and women the most because of unequal power and unfair expectations.

One clear example of gender inequality is the gender pay gap. The Government of Canada explains that even though women’s wages have gone up since the 1980s, women who work full-time still earn only about 89 cents for every dollar than men. This issue is not just in Canada. Around the world, women earn about 23 per cent less than men. This shows that many women still face challenges and unfair treatment at work.

But gender inequality doesn’t only happen at work—girls and women can experience it at any age and in many parts of their lives:

• At home: Girls are sometimes expected to do more chores than boys, like cooking, laundry or taking care of younger siblings.
• At school: Gender stereotypes can affect what subjects students choose. Girls are often encouraged to take arts or writing classes, while boys are pushed towards STEM subjects—science, technology, engineering and math.
• In activities: Girls may face unfair treatment or less support when they want to take on leadership roles in clubs or sports, especially in activities that some people think are “too rough.”
• As adults: In some cultures, women are expected to stop working after they get married or have children, making it harder for them to grow in their careers or learn new skills.

How does gender inequality affect girls’ education?

While more girls are going to school today, approximately 130 million girls worldwide are still out of school. A 2025 report from UNICEF, Plan International and UN Women highlights the ongoing barriers girls continue to face:

• In South Asia, teen girls are three times more likely than boys to be out of school, not working and not in training programs.
• Four in 10 teen girls and young women do not finish high school, especially those in rural, low-income or marginalized communities.
• Around 50 million teen girls and young women cannot read or write a simple sentence.
• In low-income countries, nine out of 10 teen girls and young women lack internet access, while boys are twice as likely to be online.

Many young women who finish high school and go to college or university choose not to study STEM subjects because of cultural pressure, social expectations or stereotypes about these fields.

Even girls and women who enter STEM programs face challenges. Women tend to drop out at higher rates than men, and those who enter STEM careers are more likely to leave their careers within a few years. In most countries, women make up less than half of all students graduating with STEM degrees. This means they may miss out on high-demand, high-paying careers.

UNESCO’s 2025 Gender Report also shows that while many women work in early childhood education, their numbers decline in leadership roles as levels go higher. Barriers continue to limit women’s advancement, even as access to education improves.

Women in leadership make a positive difference in school environments—encouraging teamwork, supporting teachers and creating welcoming spaces that promote gender equality. Seeing women in leadership inspires girls to stay in school and consider careers they may not have thought possible before.

What’s keeping girls out of school?

Even though many countries are working to improve education, millions of children—especially girls—still face barriers that keep them out of classrooms. UNESCO reports that in 2025, 272 million children are out of school —21 million more than in 2024. In some places, girls face extra challenges that boys do not, including poverty, violence and unsafe school environments.

Poverty

Families with limited income often have to make hard choices that can affect their children’s futures —especially for girls. Some of these choices include:

• Prioritizing boys’ education: In many cultures, boys are seen as future earners, so families invest in their education first. Girls may be expected to become wives and mothers, so their schooling is seen as less important, even though education could help girls build a better future.
• Sending children to work: In 2024, about 138 million children were involved in child labour, including 54 million doing dangerous work that can harm their health. Among children aged five to 17, nine per cent of boys and seven per cent of girls work. But these numbers do not include chores done at home. Girls often spend many extra hours— sometimes 21 hours a week or more —doing chores like cooking, cleaning or caring for siblings. When this work is counted, the difference between boys’ and girls’ workload becomes smaller, but girls are still doing a lot.
• Child marriage: In financial hardship, some families may choose to marry off their daughters early to reduce expenses. In some places, families receive money or gifts when their daughters marry, which can make the decision seem helpful in the short term. But child marriage often leads to long-term problems for girls, including fewer education and job opportunities.

Gender-based violence

Gender-based violence (GBV) is when someone is harmed or threatened because of their gender. This can include physical harm, emotional abuse, sexual harassment or other unsafe behaviours. GBV is one of the biggest reasons many girls around the world struggle to stay in school.

In many places, the walk to and from school can be unsafe for girls. They may face unwanted comments, teasing or harassment from men or boys. This is sometimes called “ eve-teasing ”, a term used in some countries to describe different types of harassment toward girls and unmarried young women.

Even though some people treat it like a joke or something normal, it is not harmless—it can make girls feels scared or unsafe. Because of these experiences, some girls stop going to school to protect themselves.

Inside schools, girls may face similar problems. A lack of private or clean bathrooms can make them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Some girls experience bullying, verbal abuse or sexual harassment from classmates, teachers or other adults. When this happens, it affects their confidence, mental health and ability to learn.

These challenges not only interrupt girls’ education but also take away their sense of safety—something every student deserves.

Conflict and displacement

Wars and conflicts in places like Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti and Myanmar have forced millions of families to flee. Over 473 million children live in conflict zones, with 47.2 million displaced by violence. When families run from danger, staying alive becomes their main focus, and many children— about 52 million —can no longer go to school.

Girls like Falene are at high risk during these times. When violent conflict broke out in the DRC, she and her family fled to an internally displaced persons camp—only to deal with new dangers, like a flood washing away their homes, markets, health centres. The school built to help displaced children catch up receives no government funding, so students and their families grind rocks into gravel to pay their teachers’ salaries. Read Falene’s story and discover how World Vision is supporting her and other families around the world who are living in crisis situations.

Lack of girl-friendly resources

In many low-income communities, schools do not have the things girls need to feel safe and comfortable during their menstrual cycles. Some schools lack:

• Clean, private washrooms
• Menstrual products
• Female teachers
• Classes that teach about health and puberty

Without these resources, girls may feel embarrassed or unsafe going to school while on their period. Because of this, many girls stay home during their menstrual cycles, which causes them to miss important lessons and fall behind on their education. Read how World Vision Canada is helping to build toilets and latrines around the world, not only helping girls remain in school, but also improving hygiene and sanitation for everyone in the community.

Limited access to digital tools

The digital divide is the gap between people who have access to technology—like the internet, computers and smartphones—and those who do not. This gap affects millions of girls and women around the world.

Globally, 244 million fewer women than men have access to the internet. This makes it harder for women and girls to learn new things, find jobs or take part in online education. For girls, not having digital tools also means fewer chances to explore new ideas, learn about different cultures or discover new technologies.

When girls don’t get the chance to use digital tools or build digital skills, it becomes harder for them to succeed in a world that is becoming more dependent on technology.

How does gender inequality affect the economy?

Gender inequality doesn’t just affect the education of girls and women—it affects the economy of their communities and even entire countries. Here’s how everyone loses out when girls don’t get the same chances as boys.

Loss of economic potential

When girls stay in school and get a good education, countries become stronger. According to the World Bank, if every girl received 12 years of quality education, the world economy could grow by $15-30 trillion.

Girls who finish high school also earn more money in their lifetimes and are three times less likely to be married before turning 18.

Fewer workers and slower growth

Countries with fewer women in the workforce lose out on talent and productivity, slowing down growth. Research shows that if countries close the gender gap and allow women to participate equally, their GDP could grow by up to 35 per cent.

Most of this growth comes from having more people working, but part of it comes from the fact that workplaces do better when both men and women bring their skills and ideas.

Lower incomes for families

Women’s incomes increase when they complete more schooling. For every year of secondary school a girl finishes, her future earnings can rise by 25 per cent.

When women earn more, their families are healthier, better supported and more likely to send their own children to school—helping to break the cycle of poverty.

Less innovation and fewer ideas

When women are excluded from schools, workplaces or leadership positions, society misses out on diverse ideas and problem-solving skills. Teams with both men and women are often more creative and productive.

How does gender inequality affect girls’ health?

Gender inequality also affects the health of girls and young women. When girls do not get enough education—especially about their own bodies and health—they face higher risks that can affect them for the rest of their lives.

Girls with education are healthier

Girls who finish secondary school are less likely to marry early and more likely to have healthier children.

Lack of sex education leads to teen pregnancy

In many places, cultural traditions, religious beliefs and poverty mean that girls (and boys) do not get proper lessons about reproductive health. Some girls say their schools never taught sex education, or the lessons did not include important topics like consent, contraceptives or how pregnancy happens.

Because of this, many girls become pregnant at a young age simply because they never learned the information they needed to protect themselves.

Teen pregnancy carries serious health risks

Experts say most teens have very limited knowledge about reproductive health and do not know when they can become pregnant.

Girls under 16 face three times the risk of dangerous health problems during pregnancy.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), teen pregnancy is more common among girls who have fewer years of school or come from low-income families. Teen mothers face higher risks of:

• Seizures during pregnancy
• Infections after birth
• Serious illnesses like eclampsia
• Mental health struggles caused by shame, stigma or lack of support

Their babies also face higher risks of:

• Low birth weight
• Premature birth
• Severe health problems

Violence and abuse increase health dangers

Some girls learn about sex from much older partners, leading to unsafe or abusive situations. These experiences can cause long-term emotional and physical harm and may force girls to drop out of school. In some cases, lack of support from home may force a young mother to live with her child’s father and his family, which may lead to more pregnancies and lifelong poverty.

How does gender inequality affect a girl’s future?

Gender inequality in education doesn’t just affect what girls while they are in school. It affects what they can do later in life, including the jobs they get, how much money they earn and the opportunities they have to improve their futures. When girls don’t receive the same education as boys, it becomes much harder for them to reach their goals.

Girls miss out on higher-paying careers

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) explains that boys and girls often get encouraged to study different subjects. Boys are more likely to be pushed toward STEM while girls are guided toward subjects like teaching or social sciences.

Because of this, girls may miss opportunities to build skills needed for higher-paying careers.

Education shapes a girl’s chances in life

Education helps determine important parts of a person’s future, such as job options, income and overall well-being. When girls have fewer chances to finish school or study advanced subjects, they have fewer opportunities to escape poverty or improve their lives.

Early gender gaps lead to long-term inequality

The OECD notes that gender differences start early. Even in elementary school, girls and boys often expect to pursue different careers because of stereotypes about what each gender “should” do.

When girls aren’t encouraged to try STEM subjects, they don’t get the chance to explore their full potential. They miss opportunities to discover new interests, build important skills and grow confidence in areas that could lead to higher-paying careers. Without support to enter STEM fields, girls may never know what they are capable of achieving.

Unequal schooling leads to unequal income

Because girls and boys are often separated into different fields, women tend to earn less as adults. This keeps income inequality going from one generation to the next. The OECD shows that education is one of the strongest predictors of a person’s future earnings, so when girls falls behind in school, they often fall behind in life too.

You can help girls break barriers and build brighter futures

Around the world, millions of girls face unfair obstacles that keep them out of school and limit their dreams. But you can help change that story. By supporting World Vision Canada, you can give girls the chance to learn, feel safe and unlock their potential.

Sponsor a child: The most powerful way to support a girl’s education

Child sponsorship is one of the strongest ways you can help a girl overcome gender inequality at home, school and in her community. When you sponsor a girl through World Vision Canada, your support helps:

• Provide school supplies, uniforms and textbooks, so girls can learn with confidence.
• Strengthen local schools and teacher training, giving girls a better classroom experience.
• Improve health and nutrition, helping girls stay strong and focused.
• Protect girls from child marriage, violence and unsafe situations.
• Build a safe and supportive community where girls are encouraged to stay in school.

Your sponsorship doesn’t just help one child—it helps transform an entire community, giving girls the chance to learn and imagine a brighter future.

Give a meaningful gift that helps a girl succeed

If you want to go even further, we offer many gift options that support girls’ education, safety and well-being. Through the All Gifts page, you can choose items that directly support girls and their families. These include:

• Gender equality resources, education and more to help at-risk women and girls.
• School essentials like backpacks, books and learning materials.
• Clean water sources close to home, so girls don’t miss school to collect water.
• Food and nutrition support to help families stay healthy.
• Hygiene kits that help girls feel comfortable attending school.
• Healthcare supplies to help women, especially new moms, and girls stay healthy.
• Sewing machines, fabric, agricultural tools, business training and more to help women start their own businesses.

Each gift helps remove a barrier that keeps women and girls from learning and thriving.