Gender Equity and Biological Development and Health

Gender refers to those attitudes and behaviors accepted by the society as appropriate ways of being a woman or a man.

Parity

Refers to the same proportion of girls and boys enter and complete schooling.

Equality

Aims to ensure that everyone gets the same thing.

Equity

Means fairness without bias.

It means to make sure people get access to the same opportunities to have and enjoy full and healthy life.

Education

According to UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization), nearly three quarters of a billion of girls do not complete the primary education because of two reasons:

The quality of school is poor.

Girls do not have the same opportunities that boys have.

Equality

All students should have the resources necessary for a high quality education.

Equity

Is based on the premise that an individual´s level of education is correlated directly to future quality of life.

Students who are furthest behind require more resources to catch up.

Low-income

Indigenous

Afro-Ecuadorian

From the rural area.

Gender equality

Members of both sexes should legally enjoy the:

Same rights

Resources

Opportunities

Protection

High quality education

Gender equity

Gender is not an obstacle to achieving educational potential.

Boys and girls have the same opportunities in the future in terms:

economic

social

cultural

political issues

Causes of gender discrimination in education.

Political factors

In many countries women are not considered worthy of education.

Socio-economic factors

Poverty

Socio-cultural factors

Patriarchal society

Chauvinist mentality

Religion

Stakeholders to get the Gender equity

Government

Parents

Schools

Teachers

Students

Progressive biological changes during the life of a human.

Pre-natal development

Period of remarkable change that helps set the stage for future psychological development.

It occurs in three main stages:

germinal stage

embryonic period

fetal period

Human brain development

There are two processes that contribute to the brain development:

the molecular events (gene expression)

the impact of the environment

Infancy

Covers the child during prenatal care and up to 1 year old.

The first year is a period of rapid development for skills:

Motor

Language

Social

Sensory

Thinking

Child development

Refers to the changes sequence that occur in a child from birth to the beginning of adulthood.

Physical

Language

Thought

Emotional

During this process, a child progresses from dependency on their parents to increasing independence.

Child development covers the following skills:

Cognition

The ability to learn and problem solve.

Social interaction and emotional regulation

Speech and Language

Physical skills

Sensory awareness

Adolescence

Period of transition between childhood and adulthood.

Changes that take place during this period development are:

Physical

Intellectual

Personality

Social

Health

Refers to a state of complete emotional and physical well-being and a resource for living and enjoying a full life.

Factors to take into consideration for having good health:

Genetics

The environment

Relationships with:

Friends

Family

Level of education

Income

The relationship between school performance and various health concerns includes:

Poor sleep

Exercise

Importance of breakfast

Obesity

Asthma

Chronic health problems

Diabetes

Epilepsy

Cancer

Hemophilia

Congenital heart conditions

HIV