Complete Schedule
Presentation Type
Open Access Poster Presentation
Abstract
Access to education for women has been restricted in various ways across the globe throughout history. Many of these restrictions have led to gender disparities in access to work, which pushes women into more vulnerable situations, such as poverty, abuse, or forced marriages. The goal of this research is to raise awareness and knowledge about women’s and girls’ education in South Sudan, given its 93% illiteracy rate among women. According to UNESCO, among the 84% of countries that legally protect the right to education, only 57% explicitly guarantee it without discrimination on the basis of sex and/or gender. Education for women and girls is vital in order to drive economic growth, reduce poverty, and promote gender equality. This research focuses on access to women’s education, examining global dimensions and the cross-national comparison between the United States and South Sudan. This project aims to inspire advocacy work surrounding increasing women’s access to education.
Start Date
14-4-2026 11:00 AM
End Date
14-4-2026 11:50 AM
Faculty Advisor
Itunu Ilesanmi
Department
Department of Social Work
Student Type
Undergraduate Student
Copyright
©2026 Olivia Clausen, Lillie-Kay Colby, and Ellie-Lynn Colby
File Format
application/pdf
File Size
948 KB
Recommended Citation
Clausen, Olivia; Colby, Lillie-Kay; and Colby, Ellie-Lynn, "Women's Access to Education: A Global Perspective" (2026). INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference. 84.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/csbsresearchconf/2026/all/84
Additional Files
INSPIRE_2026_Colby_Womens-Access-Education_Paper.pdf (143 kB)Women's Access to Education: A Global Perspective Paper
Women's Access to Education: A Global Perspective
Access to education for women has been restricted in various ways across the globe throughout history. Many of these restrictions have led to gender disparities in access to work, which pushes women into more vulnerable situations, such as poverty, abuse, or forced marriages. The goal of this research is to raise awareness and knowledge about women’s and girls’ education in South Sudan, given its 93% illiteracy rate among women. According to UNESCO, among the 84% of countries that legally protect the right to education, only 57% explicitly guarantee it without discrimination on the basis of sex and/or gender. Education for women and girls is vital in order to drive economic growth, reduce poverty, and promote gender equality. This research focuses on access to women’s education, examining global dimensions and the cross-national comparison between the United States and South Sudan. This project aims to inspire advocacy work surrounding increasing women’s access to education.
