All over the globe, women in disadvantaged communities face extreme hurdles to access education. Gaining an education can open the doors to economic advancement, personal empowerment, health, and creative energy. The world of education is inextricably linked to the politics of elistism and oppression. Women everywhere are forced to fight for their rights to learn and gain skills. In doing so, they challenge oppressive societal structures. Here are several highlighted stories from the Middle East and United States that show the impacts that education, and lack thereof, can have on individuals and communities.

HE NAMED ME MALALA
(2015, Documentary Feature)

DIRECTOR: Davis Guggenheim
PRODUCER: Walker F. Parkes, Laurie McDonald, Davis Guggenheim

Malala Yousafzai, youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, was targeted by the Taliban for speaking up for girls’ education. That didn’t stop her from becoming a leading global advocate today.

LALEE'S KIN: THE LEGACY OF COTTON
(2001, Documentary Feature)

DIRECTOR: Albert Maysles, Susan Froemke, Deborah Dickson, Albert and David Maysles
PRODUCER: Susan Froemke

Extreme poverty and lack of educational access plague black communities in the Mississippi Delta. This film examines the cyclical nature of illiteracy, rooted in slavery, and shows the hustle it takes to live without education.