Girls & Education: What's Really Going On In My Town!

Question I. What do you believe is the greatest challenge girls confront in your community to accessing an education?
My responses are not reflective of my personal community or personal experience, but more general to inner city and rural areas of Georgia. All thoughts are based upon working experience in each of the latter areas/regions of the state.

I believe it is less about access and more about parental & personal responsibility. Unfortunately we are living during a time where parental & personal accountability is neither accepted, appreciated or understood. With that, many children are left to create and define the premise for how they will live and navigate the world. And to that, education is rarely identified as a priority. And so, most will have poorly defined education paths and most will fail to accomplish the basics at it relates educational successes.

Question II. Describe the barriers that prevent you or young women in your community from accessing education.
My responses are not reflective of my personal community or personal experience, but more general to inner city and rural areas of Georgia. All thoughts are based upon working experience in each of the latter areas/regions of the state.

a. politics

b. generational myths/beliefs about education

c. economics

d. lack of confidence/ hope/inspiration/support...no motivation to go

e. transportation

f. discrimination

g. misguidance (peer pressure)

Question III. What impact to you believe these barriers to education have had on yourself, your family or community?
My responses are not reflective of my personal community or personal experience, but more general to inner city and rural areas of Georgia. All thoughts are based upon working experience in each of the latter areas/regions of the state.

a. higher school drop out rates

b. increase in juvenile crimes

c. low self esteem

d. acceptance of impoverished mentality

e. diminished community/property value

f. lack of community investment

g. increased codependency upon supplemental benefits offered through the state.

h. lack of community involvement (loss of self advocacy)

I. limited employment opportunities

j. episodic psychiatric disorders

Question IV. How have you or others been able to overcome these barriers?
My responses are not reflective of my personal community or personal experience, but more general to inner city and rural areas of Georgia. All thoughts are based upon working experience in each of the latter areas/regions of the state.

A. Seek support/guidance from community help/service centers