The Role of Public Policy in the Education of Girls and Women

In order to make education more equitable and effective for all, educators need to understand some of the complexities involved in developing public education policies to benefit over half our population which is female. A conceptual framework has been developed to indicate how different types of public policies have intended or unintended positive, mixed, or negative effects on girls and women in education. Examples of public policies that focus on sex equity goals, sex differential goals, and general education goals are followed by recommendations to help educators and policymakers assume responsibility for ensuring that education policies help, instead of harm, females.