Nurture not nature? How young women can learn to better wield economic power
Project in Zambia shows how teaching young women to negotiate better can have a long-term impact on their prospects
TL;DR
- Teaching young women negotiation skills can have a long-term positive impact on their prospects.
- A 12-hour negotiation class for Zambian girls led to them staying in school longer, graduating college more often, and marrying older men less.
- The negotiation training emphasized understanding the other person's perspective and problems, rather than viewing them as an adversary.
- The curriculum also taught respecting generational hierarchies and showing respect to parents through culturally appropriate actions.
- The program's success has led to its inclusion in Zambia's national curriculum and adaptations for use in other countries, including Afghanistan.
- In Afghanistan, the adapted curriculum helps girls manage mental health and negotiate for small freedoms and safety, even with the Taliban.