Empowering Women Through Online Education
The human race is constantly evolving, thanks in no small part to education. As any true leader knows, however, the best among us never stop learning.
This goes some way to explaining why concepts of diversity and social justice have evolved from minority corners of social media into mainstream society. Such discussions are becoming increasingly commonplace concerns in the modern world, as the greater populace identify and acknowledge the problematic nature of inequality.
This is backed up by findings of the Future of Learning report. One of the most interesting take homes from this investigation was the attitude of women toward the higher education sector, the shift toward online learning — and hopes and expectations for a more even playing field in years to come.
It is no secret that gender disparity still exists, especially in the corporate world. While the presence of women and BAME executives dwarfs that of the past, men continue to hold the majority of C-level positions. You would be forgiven for expecting this to create disillusionment in the education sector among women. After all, why spend time studying for such limited opportunity for reward? Thankfully, it appears, the opposite is true.
Heightened awareness of disparity appears to be restoring the faith of women in the education sector. 45% of female respondents to the survey expressed a belief that education can and will enhance diversity and acceptance of different cultures. 39% went one step further, confidently stating a belief that education can finally put an end to race- and gender-based inequality.
What provoked such optimism among female respondents? The answer, it appears, is the embrace of online learning by the education sector. Almost half of all female respondents expressed the belief that digital education is key to levelling the future playing field. The consensus was that access to digital learning removes barriers. With the elimination of obstacles that would previously have excluded gifted students, the potential for bright minds to achieve their potential is enhanced.
The privacy afforded by online education is key to this. 47% of women admitted that they felt more confident studying predominantly male-centric subjects online than they would in person. 62% of women also identified the opportunity to learn at a personal pace, as opposed to a group setting, as a benefit of online education. The ability to work at a unique pace, without feeling the pressure of sharing time and space with other students, was deemed a boon to confidence and self-esteem.
Statistics surrounding STEM education apply weight to this theory. STEM-centric jobs have long been decried as something of a, “boys club”, with concerns frequently raised about the lack of female representation. In 2020, however, 55% of enrolments in STEM education courses were from female students. This, coupled with an increase of close to 350% in technology and coding enrolments, suggests that online learning is providing female students with a safe space to pursue their passions without fear of judgment or exclusion.
Ultimately, this loops us back to where we began — a greater awareness of social justice and equality in years to come. The survey results made it clear that women are considerably likelier than their male counterparts to use social media to learn about diversity and inclusion.
This perhaps feeds into the interest of personal development. 40% of women noted an interest in additional learning to bolster self-improvement — and, it seems, lay the groundwork for a more united world in the future. This is heartening to see and suggests that the education sector is laying the pivotal groundwork for a brighter, more equal tomorrow.
