Learn and Find a Good Husband: The Role of Culture in Kenyan Female Students' Education

• In Event: Equitable Education Across the Continents in the 21st Century

Abstract

For female students, education entails more than just academic success and ease of access. It is about having an institutional environment that provides opportunities for all citizens and policy measures that address persistent inequalities (King & Mason, 2001). This study investigated the subtle cultural elements' impact on the academic endeavors of female students in two rural-based coeducational high schools in western Kenya. The researcher interviewed two teachers, two school principals, and eight female students. The female students also completed open-ended questionnaires. Findings show that the Luhya ethnic group’s cultural beliefs permeate educational settings and influence how female students participate in education. These findings are significant in lobbying educational stakeholders to educate the public about the benefits of educating women.

Author

• Lyndah Naswa Wasike, Texas Tech University
  Presenting Author