There is never a humanitarian solution for a humanitarian crisis. The solutions for the humanitarian crisis are always political ones.
Negative gender stereotypes related to girls' education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics begin as early as primary school and have the devastating effect of making them doubt their own potential.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Negative stereotypes about girls in STEM fields start early and can harm their confidence and potential.
Antonio Guterres highlights the issue of negative gender stereotypes that emerge at a young age, particularly in relation to girls pursuing education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). These stereotypes can deeply affect girls' self-esteem and ability to recognize their own capabilities, ultimately limiting their participation and success in these critical fields. The quote underscores the importance of addressing such stereotypes to empower young girls and promote gender equality in education.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech at a school assembly, a teacher could use this quote to discuss the importance of encouraging all students in STEM subjects.
More from Antonio Guterres
All quotes →As a global society, we have the technology, resources and the know-how to make a massive difference to living standards everywhere, including for refugees.
The world's problems transcend borders.
Humanitarian response, sustainable development, and sustaining peace are three sides of the same triangle.
The fact that societies are becoming increasingly multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multi-religious is good. Diversity is a strength, not a weakness.
Syria has become the great tragedy of this century - a disgraceful humanitarian calamity with suffering and displacement unparalleled in recent history.
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I believe our only hope for the future is to adopt a new conception of human ecology, one in which we start to reconstitute our concept of the richness in human capacity.
The adolescent must never be treated as a child, for that is a stage of life that he has surpassed. It is better to treat an adolescent as if he had greater value than he actually shows than as if he had less and let him feel that his merits and self-respect are disregarded.
My contention is, all kids have tremendous talents. And we squander them, pretty ruthlessly.
I was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. I grew up in the projects. I never went anywhere. But I have lived a thousand lives and I’ve loved a thousand loves. I’ve walked on distant worlds and seen the end of time. Because I read.
Do I dare set forth here the most important, the most useful rule of all education? It is not to save time, but to squander it.