Safety in educational settings is a barrier to equality for women and girls. This article highlights four key areas that perpetuate inequality in education for women and girls, and that contribute to a worldwide lack of safety in educational settings for women and girls: cultural norms, societal norms, sexual assault and sexual harassment. All four areas form part of a social–structural condition that underpins a world in which women and girls experience violence and an economic and social inequality that contributes to their lack of safety in educational settings. Several solutions are proposed to combat this. To improve the life outcomes of women and girls, we must invest in approaches that empower and educate them in safe environments. In doing so, we must also ensure that such approaches are holistic and intersectional.
Barbara Owen is a researcher, teacher, advocate for female offenders, and author of two books, as well as many book chapters, research articles, and technical reports. Her contributions have been recognized with many awards, including the Saltzman Award for Contributions to Practice, Women and Crime Division of the American Society of Criminology, President's Award from the Western Society of Criminology, and the University of Cincinnati Award from the American Probation and Parole Association. She is currently professor emeritus in the Department of Criminology at California State University, Fresno. Her work has helped shape policy regarding gender‐responsive programs and practice for female offenders.
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