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The scientific life and contributions of Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, are becoming increasingly well-known 200 years after her birth. Ada Lovelace had a privileged existence but lived in a world where girls were limited in the subjects they were taught, where young women were excluded from universities and where gender stereotypes were rigidly enforced. Despite the world in which she lived, Ada is now known as the first computer scientist. Furthermore, her scientific interests extended beyond the "thinking" machine, to biophysics and mathematical modeling of biological processes, and she may have made even more significant contributions to science had she not died at the young age of 36. We discuss the concept that the unintended consequence of her exclusion from the standard approaches to learning and teaching enabled her genius to remain unfettered by conventional thinking and thus empowered her to become the visionary she was - suggesting that perhaps the greatest digital innovations will be found by disrupting the cultural constraints typically applied to technology and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the political and social impacts of increased education by utilizing a randomized girls' merit scholarship programme in Kenya that raised test scores and secondary schooling. Consistent with the view that education empowers the disadvantaged to challenge authority, we find that the programme reduced the acceptance of domestic violence and political authority. Young women in programme schools also increased their objective political knowledge. We find that this rejection of the status quo did not translate into greater perceived political efficacy, community participation or voting intentions. Instead, there is suggestive evidence that the perceived legitimacy of political violence increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This case study research examined the contributions of the Lifeline Program in Ghana, West Africa to the preparation of young women for the workforce; this preparation is an effort to combat poverty. In this research report, a succinct overview of Ghana was provided, the economic status of the country was delineated, and the history of the Lifeline Program from its inception was given. The research provided an explanation of each of the three vocational skills training programs offered by Lifeline: catering, dressmaking, and hairdressing. The vocational skills training programs in Ghana are likened to workforce education programs in the United States. Conclusions were drawn for the Lifeline Program and the vocational skills training programs based on the Human Capital Theory, a major economic framework. Also, recommendations were suggested based on the findings and the theory that undergirded this case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study regarding the evaluation of the literacy practices among a group of young women who are engaged with an after-school journalism club in a rural secondary school in Kenya. The study focuses on the use of digital resources for learning and communication by these girls. It mentions that several ethnographic techniques have been documented to evaluate the use of local cultural and digital resources such as digital cameras, voice recorders, and laptops in the after-school journalism club. The study reveals that the implementation of digital resources by the clubs help in integrating equality and creativity among students.

The study aims at exploring mothers' perceptions and attitudes that contributed to reinforce the concept of daughters’ drop-out of basic schools, taking Elengaz Primary Mixed school in Ombedda Province as a case under investigation. The qualitative method was used, to gather in depth reactions and responses that focused on the information needed to analyze the attitudes and perceptions of mothers towards their daughters’ education. A sample of 20 mothers whose daughters dropped out from Elngaz School was purposively selected with help of Sawswa Local Organization which worked for the development of the area. Result has revealed that mothers were illiterate, worked in the informal sector in very low income jobs to support their families. All mothers noted the differences in the socialization of boys and girls. They believed the expected roles for girls on adulthood are just to become housewives and mothers. This belief has an effect on mothers’ attitudes towards the benefit of education for their daughters. Household chores appear to be quite heavily gendered with the larger share of the responsibility being delegated to girls which lead to poor performance and drop-outs of girls from schools. Mothers commonly held views that girls are less academic capable than boys. The study concluded that mother attitudes play a very important role towards their daughter’s education. The major cause of girls leaving schools before the completion of education was the reluctance of the mothers to let the daughters to go to schools. Promoting girls’ education, therefore, involves changing attitudes across society as well as spending money on increasing the number of school places available to girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The real life experiences of Nigerian girl children indicate that the current Global Economic Crisis (GEC) has worsened their situation. This study examines the effects of GEC on the education of the girl-child and their engagement in alternative jobs. Data were obtained from 1,200 female children between 6-14 years of age, selected with a purposive random sampling-technique, who were engaged in hawking in three Nigerian states. About twenty parents were also selected to go through in-depth interview sessions. They responded to a semistructured questionnaire. Findings show that 45% of girls had recently dropped out of school and engaged in hawking to enhance their lives and that of their family household, making an average daily gain of one U.S. dollar. They hawk in crowded markets, hotels and at busy road junctions. There are reported cases of child-sexual abuse. Four percent of girls performing paid housework were impregnated, resulting in clandestine abortions. An improvement in the socioeconomic conditions of parents and a social protection policy for girl-children are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the number of women majoring in engineering and engineering technology has increased in the last few decades, percentages lag behind those in other STEM disciplines. Young women often have misperceptions about the nature of engineering, and that leads to lack of interest. Engineering is often seen as men's work. They do not understand how engineers can have a positive impact on society (Hersh, 2000). Math Options Summer Camp, a program that has been conducted during the past two summers, addresses these issues. The week-long camp was designed for girls entering ninth and tenth grade when they still have time to add math and science courses to their schedules. Unlike other summer STEM initiatives, this camp focused on the use of technology: an integrated jean bag project was used to introduce campers to different areas of engineering (electrical, mechanical, and plastics) in hands-on lab-based modules. In this article the camp is described and data on campers' assessments of their experiences is provided. Workshop evaluations showed that the campers particularly enjoyed using technology in the labs and came away from the camp with a broader understanding of STEM careers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Sheldon Danziger and David Ratner, changes in the labor market over the past thirty-five years, such as labor-saving technological changes, increased globalization, declining unionization, and the failure of the minimum wage to keep up with inflation, have made it more difficult for young adults to attain the economic stability and self-sufficiency that are important markers of the transition to adulthood. Young men with no more than a high school degree have difficulty earning enough to support a family. Even though young women have achieved gains in earnings, employment, and schooling relative to men in recent decades, those without a college degree also struggle to achieve economic stability and self-sufficiency. The authors begin by describing trends in labor market outcomes for young adults—median annual earnings, the extent of low-wage work, employment rates, job instability, and the returns to education. Then they examine how these outcomes may contribute to delays in other markers of the transition to adulthood—completing an education, establishing independent living arrangements, and marrying and having children. They conclude that adverse changes in labor market outcomes are related to those delays but have not been shown to be the primary cause. Danziger and Ratner next consider several public policy reforms that might improve the economic outlook for young adults. They recommend policies that would increase the returns to work, especially for less-educated workers. They propose raising the federal minimum wage and adjusting it annually to maintain its value relative to the median wage. Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit for childless low-wage workers, the authors say, could also raise the take-home pay of many young adult workers, with minimal adverse employment effects. New policies should also provide work opportunities for young adults who cannot find steady employment either because of poor economic conditions or because of physical and mental disabilities or criminal records that make it hard for them to work steadily even when the economy is strong. Finally, the authors recommend increasing federal Pell grants for college and improving access to credit for would-be college students to raise the educational attainment of young adults from low-income families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the relationship between housing affordability and fertility in the Czech Republic after 1989. An analysis of national data suggests that improving housing affordability might be a factor behind the rise of fertility that has been observed since the beginning of the 2000s. The regional variation in fertility is generally lower than the regional variation of indicators of both housing affordability and the economic situation. Although the number of children born increased noticeably, total fertility did not increase at the same pace, and its regional patterns remained rather stable. The most important factor that influences the regional variation in fertility is the education of women, particularly young women. When the education of women is controlled for, housing affordability plays an important role in explaining the regional variation in fertility - both the total fertility rate and the timing of childbearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the author discusses ways to improve the technology education learning experiences for girls and young women. They include making sure that all students feel welcomed and valued and finding time to find out who one's students are and the activities they like to do on their own time. Refraining from using the word "guys" in a classroom setting is also recommended as fairness counts. It is noted that many technology education concepts can be taught without activities that have leanings to males.

This study demonstrates that place—defined in this article as labor market area (LMA)— provides a useful context for examining how youth manage gendered situations. Places vary by conditions in which gender is more, less or differently salient, and a particular mix of factors accommodates different individual outcomes. This study utilizes multi–level modeling to examine influence of LMA characteristics on over–time educational measures for young women (Center for Human Resource Research 1994). Hierarchical models determine place–level effects on both average outcomes (within and between LMAs) and attainment processes. A major finding of this study is that aggregate place effects channel personal decisions and outcomes of young women. Young women’s educational aspirations are dependent on gender– specific variables such as the number of women in college or the number of young women married in a local area. Attainment depends on the percentage of women in higher education and a local labor market’s average age at first marriage. Further, what are assumed to be positive environmental effects (e.g., manufacturing dominance) are based on structural advantages for men and actually depress outcomes for women. Notably, the influence of place is independent of strong individual–level determinants, including social class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the development of talent and capacities of American young women in urban, single-sex, public secondary schools. Reference to the education of urban, adolescent females, being an important role for the American government; Information on the TYWLS (The Young Women Leadership School); Analysis of statutory and constitutional law which governs single-sex schools; More detailed information.

Focuses on the GIRLS Science Camp summer camp targeting fifth- and sixth-grade girls. Creation of the project by Webb Schools in Claremont, California; Selection of female high school science scholars to share their love of science with younger campers; Two-tiered mentoring approach to learning; Interaction among campers and teachers.

The article reports on a training school course managed by Adelaide V. Finch in Lewiston, Maine in 1908. Finch goes with young women and works as they work. The course has many attractive and valuable features.

The article reports on the new policy in Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana which regulates the privileges of the college girls to go out at night during school days. The new rule by Governor Huey P. Long, will take effect on the upcoming semester. The policy will deprive girls to go for dating several times a week, to ensure them that they will get enough sleep. Also stipulated in the ruling is the number of times each year level will be allowed to go out during nigh time.

The article reflects on the situation of women in the modern society. It mentions that education of young women during the modern civilization should not focused on routine works instead, allow her freedom to explore nature and enhance her mental ability. It also emphasizes balance of time between study and leisure for proper learning.