No progress without equality, the urgent need for gender education to transform communities in Mexico and the U.S.
- Editorial
- May 30
- 3 min read
In a binational context marked by rapid social, political, and economic change, gender equity can no longer be a peripheral issue. Building fairer and more resilient communities requires a structural investment in education and awareness around gender equality. In both Mexico and the United States, 2024 witnessed notable advances in local policies and public campaigns. However, it also revealed persistent cultural, institutional, and educational gaps that must be addressed more urgently in 2025.
On the Mexican side, efforts to integrate gender equity into basic education gained traction in states like Jalisco, Oaxaca, and Mexico City, where pilot programs with a gender perspective were implemented in more than 1,800 public schools. According to data from the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP), 62% of institutions adopting this content reported improved perceptions of peer respect and a reduction in bullying incidents. Nevertheless, coverage remains limited: only 14% of all basic education schools nationwide actively include gender and human rights modules.
In the United States, the Department of Education and several public universities led community outreach campaigns across rural and suburban counties, especially in traditionally conservative areas. In California, Texas, and New York, partnerships between local governments and women’s organizations brought educational workshops to more than 400,000 people in 2024. A recent report from the American Association of University Women (AAUW) found that 73% of participants said they had changed their attitudes toward gender equity in their workplaces and families. However, initiatives faced legislative and cultural resistance in the southern and midwestern states, limiting their reach.
Politically, gender equity has only timidly made its way into municipal agendas, with just 18% of local governments in both countries allocating specific budget lines for gender education programs in 2024. On the technology front, cities like Austin and Guadalajara have begun experimenting with artificial intelligence and big data platforms to monitor the impact of gender-based public policies. These are early-stage efforts, but they chart a promising course for accountability and continuous improvement.
A persistent challenge is the lack of training for public officials and educators. According to the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the University of California, fewer than 30% of teachers and public servants have received structured training in gender equality. This means that even when educational materials and campaigns exist, the effective transmission of gender-equal values still relies on traditional educational structures that remain unchanged.
Gender education is not only an ethical imperative but also a strategic tool for economic development. Studies by Harvard University and El Colegio de México show that communities with greater gender equality report higher levels of productivity, social cohesion, and institutional stability. In this sense, investment in education and awareness programs should not be seen as a “soft” expenditure but rather as a fundamental pillar of local and binational competitiveness.
Looking ahead to 2025, municipal governments in both countries must institutionalize these initiatives, overcome social resistance, and expand their reach. Progress will largely depend on political will, active involvement from universities and civil society organizations, and the intelligent use of digital technologies. It will also be crucial that these programs not only focus on women and girls but also actively involve men and boys in the cultural transformation process.
As Mexico and the United States continue to redefine their shared development agenda, gender equality must move beyond rhetoric and become a tangible priority in education and local budgets. There can be no sustainable communities, resilient cities, or prosperous economies without real equality between women and men. To educate for equality is to sow justice — and to secure a stronger future on both sides of the border.
Written by: Editorial
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