She Matters

Education is often considered the foundation of equality and empowerment, yet gender bias remains deeply rooted in classrooms and campuses worldwide. From early childhood education to higher learning institutions, girls and young women continue to face subtle and overt discrimination that limits their access, participation, and performance. Global and Indian Statistics Global Scenario : UNESCO reports that 129 million girls worldwide are out of school — 32 million of primary school age, 30 million of lower-secondary school age, and 67 million of upper-secondary school age. In STEM higher education, women represent less than 30% of students globally, despite achieving better academic outcomes in many regions. 🇮🇳 Indian Context : According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022 , 13.5% of girls aged 15–16 in rural India were not enrolled in school, compared to 7.9% of boys. Girls face greater dropout rates after Class 10 due to child marriage, househo...

Despite global progress in women's rights and workforce participation, the gender wage gap continues to be a persistent issue. Women, across industries and geographies, often earn significantly less than men for doing the same or equivalent work. This disparity is rooted in a mix of historical, structural, and cultural factors — and solving it is key to achieving true gender equality. Global & Indian Wage Gap Statistics Global Perspective: As per the International Labour Organization (ILO) , women globally earn 20% less than men on average. The World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2024 estimates that at the current rate, it will take over 130 years to close the global wage gap. In OECD countries , the average gender pay gap is 13% , even when comparing men and women with similar education and experience levels. 🇮🇳 India-Specific Data: According to the Monster Salary Index (2021) , Indian women earn 19% less than men for the same work. Th...

  Understanding FGM Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is a deeply rooted cultural practice in certain communities, often carried out under the guise of tradition, modesty, or social acceptance. However, FGM is internationally recognized as a violation of the human rights of girls and women, causing lifelong physical and psychological trauma. Statistical Data on FGM Global Statistics According to UNICEF , at least 200 million girls and women alive today in 30 countries have undergone FGM. The practice is most prevalent in parts of Africa, the Middle East , and some Asian countries , but also occurs among diaspora communities in Europe, North America, and Australia . An estimated 4 million girls are at risk of undergoing FGM every year globally. India-Specific Context Though India is not officially listed among high-prevalence countries, FGM exists primarily within the Daw...