Question

Which statement correctly compares female literacy with overall literacy during the colonial period?

Options

• Female literacy (about 7%) was less than half of the overall literacy rate (less than 16%)

• Both female and overall literacy stood at about 16%

• Female literacy (about 7%) was slightly higher than overall literacy

• Female literacy (about 16%) was double the overall rate

Answer 1

Female literacy was about 7% while overall literacy was less than 16%. Since \[7\% < \frac{16\%}{2}\], female literacy was less than half the overall rate, underscoring the extreme gender gap in education during the colonial period.