Devastating effects of gender inequality on female students in South African higher education

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v13i6.3562

Keywords:

Devastating, effects, experience, gender, inequality

Abstract

Gender inequality is a concept of much relevance and is continuously gaining momentum. The diversification of different genders is pivotal to be able to address the effects of gender inequality. Globally, gender inequality has attracted a lot of interest and has huge effects on the social, academic and psychological. Although there is a nurturing environment for gender inequality, it is important to neutralize the playing fields for all genders to avoid negative effects on the victims of this phenomenon. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of gender inequality on South Africa’s higher education Students. It further seeks to challenge the perception contributing to gender inequality. Gender inequality is a universal problem affecting students throughout institutions of higher learning. The study used the qualitative research approach with exploratory research design adopted for the paper. The paper explored the effects of gender inequality on students from higher education institutions in South Africa. A sample of 15 students from institutions of higher learning who have been exposed to gender inequality was chosen for data collection process. A semi-structured face to face interviews was used during the data collection process with purposive sampling used to select participants to the study. The study used thematic content analysis to analyze data. The study applied feminist theoretical framework to understand the effects of gender inequality.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abu-Ghaida, D., & Klasen, S. (2004). The costs of missing the Millennium Development Goal on gender equity. World Development, 32(7), 1075–1107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2004.02.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2004.02.003

Ajayi, A. B., Chan, D., & Maringe, F. (2018). Gender inequality in higher education trajectories: Evidence from South Africa and Nigeria. Gender and Education, 30(7), 830-849. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003165408 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003165408

Barsh, J., & Yee, L. (2012). Unlocking the full potential of women at work. McKinsey & Company.

Buchmann, C., DiPrete, T. A., & McDaniel, A. (2019). Gender inequalities in education. Annual Review of Sociology, 45, 401-425. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.34.040507.134719 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.34.040507.134719

Briggs, D. S. (2016). Responding to gender-based violence: Challenges and opportunities for social work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 52(1), 8-22. https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/52627

Brussevich, M. E., Dabla-Norris, & Khalid, S. (2019). Is technology widening the gender gap? Automation and the future of female employment. IMF Working Paper 19/91. Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781498303743.001

Cavallo, A. F., & Cavallo, E. A. (2010). Are crises good for long-term growth? The role of political institutions. Journal of Macroeconomics, 32(3), 838-857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmacro.2010.01.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmacro.2010.01.006

Cuberes, D., & Teignier, M. (2014). Gender inequality and economic growth: A critical review. Journal of International Development, 26(2), 260-276. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.2983

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Dang, H.-A. H., Hoang, T. X., & Nguyen, H. (2021). The long-run and gender-equalizing impacts of school access: Evidence from the First Indochina War. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 70(1), 453-484. https://doi.org/10.1086/711319 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/711319

De Vos, A., Strydom, H., Fouche, C., & Delport, C. (2011). Research at grass roots for social sciences and human services professionals. Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers. https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm

Duflo, E. (2012). Women empowerment and economic development. Journal of Economic Literature, 50(4), 1051–1079. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.50.4.1051 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.50.4.1051

Dziruni, O. (2019). Exploring gender inequalities and access to education in Africa: A critical literature review. Journal of Educational Administration and Policy Studies, 11(7), 83-94. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003256038 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003256038

Erman, L., & Kaat, D. M. (2019). Inequality and growth: Industry-level evidence. Journal of Economic Growth, 24(3), 283-308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10887-019-09169-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10887-019-09169-z

Evans, D., & Yuan, F. (2022). What we learn about girls’ education from interventions that do not focus on girls. The World Bank Economic Review, 36(1), 244–267. https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/lhab007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/lhab007

Esteve-Volart, B. (2004). Gender discrimination and growth: Theory and evidence from India. STICERD Discussion Papers DEDPS42. London School of Economics and Political Science. https://ssrn.com/abstract=1127011

Forbes, K. (2000). A reassessment of the relationship between inequality and growth. American Economic Review, 90(4), 869–887. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.90.4.869 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.90.4.869

Gedzi, V. S. (2012). Women’s property relations after Intestate Succession PNDC Law 111 in Ghana. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(9), 211–219.

González-Rivera, M. S., & Baigorri, L. (2020). Promoting gender equality and combating gender-based violence: The role of social work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 56(3), 464-478.

Hill-Collins, P. (2000). Black feminist thought: Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003245650 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003245650

Humm, M. (2020). Feminist reasoning: Gender, scholarship, and human rights. Routledge.

Kapur, R. R. (2018). The impact of cultural, societal, and parental influences on Indian girls’ education: Pursuing opportunities in STEM fields. SAGE Open, 8(3), 1-10.

Kanu, Y. (2020). Gender and higher education access in South Africa: A critical analysis. Gender and Education, 32(5), 576-592.

Kheswa, P. N., Maponya, M., & Mukarugwiza, A. (2018). Gender-based violence on South African university campuses: A literature review. South African Journal of Higher Education, 32(2), 196-216.

Lagerlöf, N. P. (2003). Gender equality and long-run growth. Journal of Economic Growth, 8(4), 403–426. https://doi.org/10.29052/2413-4252.v7.i1.2021.X-X DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026256917489

Oduaran, A. B. (2017). Gender and education in sub-Saharan Africa: A review of policies, contexts, and practices. Gender and Education, 29(7), 854-870.

Rubery, J., & Rafferty, A. (2013). Women and recession revisited. Work and Employment, 27(2), 314-327. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017012460314 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017012460314

Sithole, S. T., Mawasha, P., & Ogbuabor, D. C. (2019). Gender transformation in leadership in higher education institutions in South Africa: Challenges and prospects. South African Journal of Higher Education, 33(4), 177-197.

Sharma, M., Nagpal, R., & Sharma, R. (2019). Gender inequality in STEM education: Current scenario, challenges, and solutions. In Handbook of research on promoting women’s careers through entrepreneurship and innovation (pp. 305-326). IGI Global.

Strøm, R., D’Espallier, B., & Mersland, R. (2014). Female leadership, performance, and governance in microfinance institutions. Journal of Banking and Finance, 42, 60–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2014.01.014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2014.01.014

Tewari, I., & Wang, Y. (2021). Durable ownership, time allocation, and female labor force participation: Evidence from China’s “Home appliances to the countryside rebate.” Economic Development and Cultural Change, 70(1), 87-127. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/706824

Sugimoto, T. (2019). Gender inequality in Japanese academia: A historical perspective on the status of women in science and society. Science and Technology Studies, 32(1), 107-123.

UNIFEM & UNDP. (2010). Making the MDGs work better for women. UN, New York.

Tickner, J. A. (2017). Gender in world politics: Feminist perspectives on achieving global security. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75850-3_8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75850-3_8

Weber, L., & Cisneros, A. (2019). Intersectionality and social work education: Moving towards a transformative curriculum. Journal of Social Work Education, 55(2), 282-295.

Weick, A., Rapp, C., Sullivan, W. P., & Kisthardt, W. (2018). Unpacking gender in social work practice: Preparing students for ethical and professional practice with nonbinary and transgender clients. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 38(2), 159-175.

Downloads

Published

2024-10-14

How to Cite

Sekgobela, T., Munzhelele, D., & Budeli, N. J. (2024). Devastating effects of gender inequality on female students in South African higher education . International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478), 13(6), 363–370. https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v13i6.3562

Issue

Section

Teaching, Learning & Higher Education Institutions