Gender equality is a fundamental characteristic of democratic citizenship, one that is intrinsically immersed in all aspects of society. While significant global progress towards gender equality has been made, women and girls in many parts of the world still endure inequality in several spheres of society including those of politics, the economy and education. This study-unit will delve into the issue of gender equality in the educational context from a sociological point of view.  It will enable learners to gain a better insight into the influence of society in determining the relationship between gender and education while making them more aware of the measures being adopted for the promotion of gender equality on a national, European and international level.

The definition of gender roles and the discourse on the distinct behaviours and achievements of men and women are, to a great extent, shaped by the culture of a society.  Meanwhile, a person’s values and cultural identity are the foundation of his or her well-being, determining the person’s life choices and influencing his or her relationship with other members of society. Education, culture and values are core aspects of society which are interrelated and have a profound impact on each other.  With reference to the works of various sociologists, this study-unit will approach the aspect of culture and values in a twofold manner.  While examining the role of education in the transmission of culture and values, it will discuss how cultural dispositions and values impact students’ participation in education.

By the end of this programme, participants should be able to: