The Gender Discrimination and Regional Difference effect on Reading Literacy of College Students: A Case from Iraq

Abstract

Building a strong sense of citizenship and literacy via reading is essential. Students who are proficient readers may perform better in educational settings. Reading literacy has been connected to gender and regional inequalities in national and international studies. As a result, the research's main goal is to examine how gender disparities and regional influences affect Iraqi college students' reading literacy. Data were gathered from rural and urban students attending public sector colleges in Iraq for this purpose. According to descriptive statistics, male students in both urban and rural areas scored less than female students overall. Compared to rural areas, the female scores were higher in urban areas. The independent sample T-test used in inferential statistics shows that there are statistical differences between gender and region in terms of reading literacy. The study could assist governing bodies and educational institutions in effectively addressing gender and regional inequalities so that students' reading and literacy needs could be met, perhaps increasing their positive impact on Iraq's economy.