Women's Education in Utah - Essay Example

?Women's Education in Utah INTRODUCTION The lifestyle of a person and their decision taking abilities depend substantially on the cultural attributesof that region. In Utah, the cultural beliefs of the people, their traditions as well as values impose immense impacts on the lifestyle choices of women. As per the Utah culture, girls should get married at a young age. Contextually, because majority of the population follows the same tradition, young girls getting engaged in house-keeping and looking after their family, restrain themselves from college education. Even though globalization and modernization has enhanced the social structure to a large extent, promoting women in various fields and encouraging them to take part in higher education in Utah, the society and its women still lack way behind in comparison to other states of United America (Madsen and Hanewicz, 1-2). This thesis will thus aim to assess the complexity of the problem barricading Utah women to pursue higher education in colleges, emphasizing two solutions and their justifications to derive a rational conclusion. COMPLEXITY OF THE PROBLEM The major complexity associated with the identified problem of lower proportion women pursuing college education in Utah, has been the identification of the rudimental causes. Notably, developments can be witnessed in almost every prospect of the Utah society today with better health facilities, women centric non-profit programs and other governmental measures to empower women populaces for better sustainable economic growth. However, the percentage of women getting education at the college level is observed to be marginally lower than the average rate in the US states. One possible reason to this problem might be the culture of getting married at young age. Certainly, getting married at a young age may give rise to complexities owing to which, they sometimes may suffer the state of depression, which further disassociates them from studies. Additionally, it has been observed that women of Utah suffer a lot due to low self-esteem. The priority in the lives of women of Utah is their sense of responsibilities towards their family and child that has arguably curbed their interests for pursuing higher education to a certain extent. Furthermore, young girls are often observed to lack open-minded nature for growth to lead an independent life with a sense of pride. Also, the upbringing of girls in the Utah culture is performed in a family oriented manner, decreasing the value for higher education in their lives. Owing to similar reasons, women who tend to study higher education face many issues in the colleges, such as the low level of confidence, lack of motivation and support from the family mostly because of the cultural factors prevailing within the society. Additionally, due to many cultural factors and the typical mindset of the people, women with higher education have to face difficulties in getting a job in Utah. Hence, women who have the urge to groom themselves tend to move outside Utah and prefer to get education, employment and better earning opportunities in their livelihood outside the state (Jacobs, 170-177). FIRST PROPOSAL A possible solution to this problem can be done by stimulating change drivers in the social structure of Utah to discourage marriage at a very young age, by giving more importance to women education and by motivating them to realize their importance in every aspect of life. The problem can also be resolved by creating awareness in Utah for women to seek postsecondary credentials and grades for convenient wage careers, successful household- and homebuilding, involvement in society as an educated community associate, and also for personal satisfaction. In addition, steps can be taken to encourage distance education so that women can keep a balance between their family and education facing lesser hindrances from the society. It is also recommended that the Governor’s office should form and promote a Utah Centre for Women and Higher Education which will be used as a “hub” for coordinating the strategies recommended above and empowering women in the society. The purpose of the centre will be to offer an on-going structure with state-wide existence and for working with associates to attain the aim of having more Utah women get their high school certification. Justification: With the proposed strategies, women shall become more independent in their thoughts and shall be able to attain a greater level of satisfaction and respect. Subsequently, getting married at a right age with the person of their preference will also be beneficial for their physical and psychological development. Hence, when the women are emotionally contended, her urge for education will upsurge and this in return will help to increase their rate of enrolment in colleges. Moreover, generating awareness regarding the benefits of education will help in escalating their standard of living and increase in finances of women by getting a respectable job. SECOND PROPOSAL The second proposal emphasizes on the health of the women of Utah should be given more importance as this will help to reduce depression among the women and hence build up their confidence. Women with healthy body and open mind-set will give them the moral boost to nurture themselves. The need for perfectionism will be fulfilled when they will have the knowledge of managing things in a proper sequential manner. This will be possible only when they will enroll themselves in the college and complete their higher education. The knowledge gained through education will not only groom them but also help them to improve their life and bring a perfect balance in family and workplace (Jacobs, 170-177). Justification: When the women will have a healthy lifestyle they will have a better frame of mind. Moreover, the idea of doing things perfectly will only be possible when they are fit. In this context, higher education will help the women to get align the personal life and the professional life. This will not only help them to be independent but will also fulfill their need for a prosperous family. Apparently, when women are satisfied as well as contended with their own life, they will be able to bring prosperity in their family life as well as the society. Abolishing traditional culture and simultaneously encouraging more employment opportunities for women can also provide a justification to young girls in pursuing higher education with better grades, which shall on the whole, nurture a better society within Utah (Women Education Initiative, 5-7). CONCLUSION In the case of Utah, it is clearly evident that women often restrain themselves from enrolling in colleges due to their early marriage tradition and family pressures barricading them to develop their economic status-quo. And hence, steps like discouraging early marriages, , measures to develop the self- esteem, motivate women by making them understand their importance in society and building better scope for employment shall certainly lead to an increase in the enrolment of women in Utah colleges for higher education and certification. Works Cited Jacobs, Jerry A. “Gender Inequality and Higher Education” 1996: 170-177. Print. Madsen, Susan R. and Cheryl Hanewicz. “The Influence of Religion and Values on a Young Woman’s College Decision”. 2011: 1-2. Print. Women Education Initiative. “Utah Women’s College Task Force” 2012: 5-7. Print. Read More