China, Educational Equality for Ethnic Women

Education for ethnic minority women is important not only because of its close relationship to social equality, but also because the education levels of mothers have a great influence upon their [Page 336]children. Girls reared by educated mothers have a greater likelihood of attending school and pursuing further education.

Minority women in China still experience disadvantages in access to educational resources. Enrollment ratios among girls from non-Han ethnic origins lag behind those of the majority Han group, and behind the ratios of boys across all education levels. Patriarchal norms (expected roles as housewives and early marriage) and religious values (particularly of Muslims) are often regarded as hindrances to education for ethnic girls by the mainstream society. However, structural factors also play prominent roles, such as poverty, ...