Research Article on Women & Girls: Education, Resilience, and Gender-Based Violence in Liberia

  • Year: 2025; Published in International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science)
  • Purpose: To examine barriers to education for women and girls in Liberia, with a focus on gender-based violence (GBV), self-esteem, resilience, and educational participation.
  • Methodology: Mixed methods study (quantitative and qualitative data; purposive sampling of 58 participants).

Key Findings

  1. Financial constraints are the most significant barrier to women’s and girls’ education, cited by over 53%–60% of respondents.
  2. Early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and harmful cultural norms continue to limit girls’ educational access and retention.
  3. Gender-based violence within and around schools negatively affects girls’ self-esteem, resilience, and academic participation.
  4. Inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, and hidden schooling costs further compound exclusion and dropout risks.

Top Recommendations

  1. Expand financial support mechanisms (scholarships, grants, livelihood-linked education support) for girls and vulnerable households.
  2. Strengthen school-based GBV prevention, reporting, and psychosocial support systems.
  3. Address cultural and social norms through community engagement, policy enforcement, and gender-responsive education reforms.

Implications

  • Policymakers: Evidence supports integrating GBV prevention and financial support into girls’ education policies.
  • Development Partners & CSOs: Highlights the need for combined education, protection, and psychosocial interventions.