Gender Dynamics In College - Literature review Example

Gender dynamics in college Introduction The issue of gender has been existent in different contexts in the society. Asfar as the education sector is concerned, gender issues have also come into play. For a very long time, the male gender has been the dominant one in different sectors, among them being the education sector. However, with the changing times, the gender dynamics have also changed. This paper will assess the gender dynamics in colleges by evaluating if both genders are well represented in higher education. The paper will also evaluate if certain genders dominate some majors in education, and the reasons for the same. Focus shall also be put on factors such as race, social class, and gender. As seen in the research conducted by May, women have attained a major milestone as far as education matters are concerned (1). The author explains how many women than men received doctorates form US universities by the year 2003 (May 1). An analysis of this fact explains the major turning point that the struggle for women has gone through so as to venture into higher education especially with the societal perception of women not being able to study to higher levels of education. Nonetheless the author is wary of the fact that despite women graduating for colleges and other higher institutions of learning, their enrolment in faculties that touch on Engineering and Science concepts is not commendable (May 3). This explains that women have not managed to venture into the male dominated fields. One would even question on this occurrence. Could be the women are the ones that are resistant to change or the institutions do not provide the right mechanisms that support dominance and success in these fields? Women on the other hand, have been indicated to prosper in disciplines such as History, Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology. The marginalization and discrimination that women have faced in the course of their study in the higher levels of learning is vivid, since they are not provided with the right mechanisms to participate fully in the production of knowledge. The concept of higher education can then be referred to as a culture that produced hierarchies in the society since the gendered fields are drawn in higher education. In the real sense, men are not smarter than women and the inferiority placed on the women is a simple gender construction (May 102). It is anticipated that a great number of women will make a culture crossing and venture into the male dominated fields with the changes taking place on the society. However this is only possible if attitudes, and common behavioral patterns change (May 81). According to Charles & Luoh, there have been many changes that have taken place in the education sector as far as gender is concerned (559-60). Male-female school attainment has improved from what was traditionally existent in the society. In the 1960s, men were privileged to attain higher education as opposed to the women. This revolves around the fact that during the previous years, men were the ones that made decisions (Charles & Luoh 563). The authors continue to indicate that the educational choices made by the women have been influenced by the Women’s Rights Movement that led to the introduction of the Births control methods that gave women the power over their fertility and marriage formation (Charles & Luoh 588). In this case, it is expected that women will attain higher levels of education as opposed to before when there were no family planning methods. A great percentage of women have managed to access higher education levels this age. On would even argue that the gap that was existent before between men and women in higher education levels has greatly reduced. On another viewpoint, the social norms have greatly changed. What was considered inappropriate for women to do in the previous centuries can be done in this era. Among such norms include women accessing education. In the present day era, the have acquired major support from the family system as well as the society. They can then equally attend school like their male counterparts as opposed to being prominent in the “marriage market” like was the norm in the previous centuries (Charles & Luoh 587). Actually in the past thirty years, women have dominated the education system, and have even outdone the men (Charles & Luoh 587). The intense changes that have been recorded in the education system that touch on the rise in the numbers of women is commendable. Going by this argument, it is validated to indicate that the gender gap has greatly reduced as far as higher education attainment is concerned. The anticipation by the women to get to college is also increasing by the day especially going with the fact that the ones that attend college do extremely well. As seen in the work of Buchmann & Thomas, education in the past, especially in the 1960s, was one that recorded more men than women especially of the late twenties (516). However, the numbers were to change in the subsequent years. By the year 2010, the number of women rose to about 36% from the previous 14% compared to the 20% men (Buchmann & Thomas 517-531). In the present day the numbers have greatly improved especially with the high number of women that have enrolled in Master Degree courses and many more in doctoral courses. Going by this fact, it is arguable that the gender gap in higher education has greatly minimized. The performance of the girls in the educational programs is also commendable. Buchmann & Thomas explain how the girls have outperformed the boys unlike in the previous centuries (517-531). Charles & Luoh also credit the changes in the education system to advancement in the use of the contraceptive, advancements in the Civil Rights Movements and the women getting the chance to find employment and even earn their own money (588). The changes in the societal norms has also greatly contributed to the women attaining high education. The gender wars have then reduced and it is anticipated that in the future both men and women will work together towards achieving success in the education system. It is also expected that schools will provide for a perfect environment that will reduce the gender gaps in education, promote a conductive education environment and gender identity for both men and women in the course of schooling. Grasgreen continues to explain that the gender gap in education is not about the ability of individuals but about the efforts that individuals of the individuals (1). The women will continually outpace the women in education. A good example is that of the 1970s that when the men had outdone the women but the numbers later changed by 2010 that recorded a 36% of women and that of the men 27% (Grasgreen 1). In the STEM subjects, men attain higher grades. An evaluation of this fact would mean that the gender inequality that is existent in the colleges results from the improper integration of the genders in the education system. In the event that the education sector was fashioned in a way that the girls were given a chance to focus on majors such as Technology, the system would in that case record no disparities as far as higher education is concerned. It is also recommended that emphasis be put on the need to attain higher education for the case of the girls. The benefits of the same will also be replicated in the labor sector since the women will be given an equal chance to work and earn just like the men (Grasgreen 1). From the New York Times newspaper, Porter explains that the gender gap in education works in (1). For the case of the men, Porter reports that the men’s educational attainment has greatly reduced to a huge extent as likened to that of women. The women on the other hand, have increased their levels of college degree. Porter writes by 2012, 34 % of women of 25 to 64 years attained a college degree in comparison 30% of men (1). In this case, one can easily tell the shift that has occurred in the education sector since more women have now enrolled in colleges and are even performing better. Lewis-McCoy of the Ebony magazine explains that the gender gap in education can be closed in the event that the learning environment is created in a way that the environment will allow awareness for both genders (1). The author is however wary with the trend in which the education system is being made in a way that favors the girls leaving the boys out (Lewis-McCoy 1). This explains why the enrolment levels in higher education levels differ between the boys and girls. As far as Gleason is concerned, the issue of race also applies as far as the gender gap on education is concerned (1). The Black men and women have slowly risen in number in the higher education institutions. However, Gleason explains that the Black women have complete college education faster as opposed to the men. Actually by 2000, 15% of Black men and 10% of Black women has successfully completed college and attained a degree (Gleason 1). An analysis of this fact explains that the Blacks were of a lower income; thus, minimal levels of education attainment. On the part of the Whites, Gleason indicates that they were more privileged since they were more privileged economically and could afford educational fees (1).However, it is interesting to note how the competition between the Black women and men is increasing to the extent that the Black men have increased their levels of attaining higher education. As far as age is concerned, Gleason is of the opinion that, as individuals age, they are less likely to return to school since the educational experiences are assumed to be tougher for them (1). In the interview of Chien, the number of women has risen significantly in tertiary education over the decade (1). Women have slowly caught up with men in terms of access to higher education. Across the regions, the enrolment levels have improved; thus, attaining gender parity in education. Nonetheless, Chien says that in continents such as Africa, women continue being disadvantaged especially with the scarcity of the educational resources and opportunities in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa. In the case of tertiary education, Chien reports that only 62 female students enroll in tertiary education for every 100 male learners (1). Despite the perception that women have an added advantage in terms of access to education, Chien writes that the perception might not be true since women also have many barriers as they engage in education (1). The author admits of more women attaining degrees than the men, the figure standing at 56% (Chien 1). The women, however, prefer courses such as Education, Social Sciences, Business and Law while the men dominate in fields such as Engineering, construction and the even Computing (Chien 1). From this perspective, one would argue that the gender gap is existent since the perception on women being below the men is still believed. The same case will be replicated in the labor market. In as much the women may have attained higher education, they may not earn the same salary like that of the men, or even influence decisions to a more extent like then (Chien 1). Conclusion In conclusion, it is justified to indicate that gender dynamics exist in colleges. In the previous centuries men were in higher numbers in the colleges but in today’s century, the gap has reduced with more women enrolling in colleges. However, men still dominate in majors such as Engineering, Science, Computing and other technical course while the women dominate in Arts, Social Sciences, Education, Law and the like. This has been linked to the cultural norms and societal perceptions. Race, social class, and gender also come into play in education. Blacks have lesser chances of accessing education, the poor and even the females that are in disadvantaged regions such as sub-Saharan Africa. Works Cited Buchmann, Claudia & Thomas, DiPrete A. “The Growing Female Advantage in Higher Education: The Role of Parental Resources and Academic Achievement?” American Sociological Review 71.4 (2006), 515-541. Charles, Kerwin Kofi & Luoh. Ming-Ching. “Gender Differences in Completed Schooling.” Review of Economics and Statistics, 85 (2003), 559–77. Chien, Chiao-Ling. Interview. Women in Higher Education. Women in Higher Education, 2014. Web. 24 Apr. 2015. Gleason, Katie. Black gender gap in education: Historical trends and racial comparisons. 4 Oct. 2011. Web. 24 Apr. 2015. Grasgreen, Allie. The Rise of Women. 21 Feb. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. Lewis-McCoy, L Heureux R. “Girls vs. Boys: The Battle for Education”. Ebony, 1 August, 2012. Print. May, Ann M. The Woman Question and Higher Education: Perspectives on Gender and Knowledge Production in America. Massachusetts: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2009. Print. Porter, Eduardo. “Gender Gap in Education Cuts Both Ways.” The New York Times 10 March, 2015. Print. Read More