Nurture not nature? How young women can learn to better wield economic power | Heather Stewart
Project in Zambia shows how teaching young women to negotiate better can have a long-term impact on their prospects Women making their way in patriarchal societies down the ages have always had to wield their meagre economic power deftly. New evidence from a fascinating research project in Zambia suggests that’s a skill that can be learned. A team of female US academics have been gathering data…
A decade-long research project in Zambia has demonstrated the significant impact that teaching young women negotiation skills can have on their long-term economic prospects. To address barriers to girls' secondary school attendance, a team of female US academics developed a curriculum involving 12 hours of negotiation classes over three weeks.
The classes, taught by local young women who had graduated and were familiar with the curriculum, focused on understanding others' perspectives and working together to solve problems. After the course, follow-up surveys showed that the girls who received the negotiation training were more likely to stay in school longer, graduate from college, and marry later in life.
These outcomes were achieved despite the existing patriarchal societal hierarchies. The program's success has led to its integration into the Zambian curriculum and replication in other countries, including Afghanistan, where it is being adapted to help young women navigate restrictive environments and improve their mental health.
While the situation in Afghanistan remains challenging, the skills taught in the course are proving to be invaluable for girls to safely negotiate their interests and seek opportunities, even in dire circumstances.
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