EDUCATION AND GENDER EQUALITY IN UZBEKISTAN: THEORETICAL PROSPECTS AND EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
Abstract
This study explores the role of education in ensuring gender equality through a multidimensional approach. A mixed-methods research was conducted from 2020 to 2024 at five major state universities in Uzbekistan (Karakalpakstan, Namangan, Samarkand, Gulistan, and Termez) with the participation of 7,823 respondents. Surveys, focus group discussions, and expert interviews were conducted to analyze Uzbekistan’s indicators based on the UNDP’s Gender Inequality Index, Gender Development Index, and Gender Social Norms Index.
Findings reveal that the main barriers to higher education for girls include financial difficulties (33.6%), family circumstances (25%), and long distances to educational institutions (19.1%). In distance learning, poor internet quality and speed (78.6%) and a lack of technical resources (38.4%) remain key challenges. The results indicate that achieving gender equality in education requires a holistic approach addressing interconnected factors. These include improving educational infrastructure, enhancing financial support mechanisms, eliminating stereotypes, reshaping parental and societal attitudes toward education, refining curricula, and expanding opportunities for women in technical fields.
Keywords
gender equality, higher education, education quality, gender indices, Gender Inequality Index, Gender Development Index, Gender Social Norms Index, women’s education, educational infrastructure, institutional mechanisms.How to Cite
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