The fast rate of technological advancements has increased risks for threats, intimidation and harassment. In EU countries, one in five 18-29 year-olds reported having experienced cyber harassment. When looking at adult education programs, women in European countries were almost twice as likely as men not to participate in adult education for family-related reasons (Figure 8, Global Education Monitoring Report, 17). The tendency was higher in southern Europe with up to two-thirds of correspondents in some countries unable to participate because of family commitments.      

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Factors that negatively affect girls’ participation in education are among other, early marriage, menstrual poverty etc.  Early marriage exists in Eastern Europe among other regions. The practice is more prevalent in some ethnic and religious groups.

 

For example, in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine, arranged marriages under common law are practiced in some Roma communities, and Roma girls married at age 15 or younger often to grooms who are also minors. 

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Another challenge for girls in Europe that has long term effects is the gender gap in STEM fields which shows in tertiary education and later in the labor market.

 

Stereotypes and deeply established misinterpreted perceptions or lack of understanding of gender make teachers and parents to discourage girls of going into STEM fields.  Another issue that contributes to this result is the lack of  inclusive language in text books to address sex, gender and sexual orientation is once of the issues that are addressed in research papers discussing gender in education in Europe. Female students are pushed to professions in health and education that have traditionally been considered appropriate for women.  In June 2015 the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the EU strategy for equality between women and men post-2015, which reaffirms there are still educational institutions that practice gender segregation. The resolution also points out that educational materials often contain stereotypes.