Marissa+and+Alyssa

[|Read article here]

Abstract: 56% of all students enrolled in college are female, and this number is expected to grow. Concurrent with the feminism movement of the 1970s was a drop in the enrollment of men. Various factors have been used to explain this drop, and include lack of encouragement and an interest in careers that do not necessarily require a four-year degree. Women have also recently been gaining higher positions of administrative power-- although behind the scenes, this progress is encouraging. Steps are being taken in an attempt to encourage male enrollment in college, as an increase in this gender gap could create future problems. Even today, this larger female population is sparking such changes as courses in women studies.

Alyssa's Response:

I found the balance of power between the genders an interesting idea. For example, although women earn more bachelor's and master's degrees than men, they also earn less doctorate degrees. Why is this? I don't understand what is holding women back from pursuing this higher level of education. Women, obviously, are very career orientated and driven to succeed-- why, then, are the statistics still skewed? Women are slowly taking steps in administrative equality, but this progress is not constant in all aspects of this concept. This was also the first time I've heard about steps being taken to attract men to enroll in college. Always, education was seen as a luxury for the male "breadwinners" of the family. This article provided the first evidence that proved otherwise. It may simply because of the educational environment Iolani provides, but I personally have never felt any real bias regarding the idea of male and female enrollment in college.

Although I have always been encouraged by my parents and advisors to pursue my current interest in international business, I know that I will have a rough journey ahead of me. I am considering working specifically with countries in Asia, a long male-dominated society. Although I may be just as qualified as the next applicant, already I know I will have to work harder to stand out. I will always be at an automatic disadvantage, simply for being a female. This piece of knowledge, I think, is something that discourages many women from entering careers considered to be "men's jobs"-- for example, jobs in construction, engineering, and computer technology. Preexisting perceptions regarding which jobs are "suitable" may play a role in the decisions women make regarding their college majors.

Questions:

What do you think contributes to this gender gap? Social pressures? Personal ambitions? Etc?

Do you, as a male or female, feel in any way influenced regarding the major you choose or the degree you decide to pursue?

Why do you think the number of men enrolled in college is dropping?

Although both males and females may be equally qualified, males are currently played higher salaries than women. Why is this?

Why are certain fields still gender dominated?

Marissa's Response:

I found this article to be interesting but it was not surprising when I read the statistics. I knew that men dominated most of the power positions and they still do but if things more men do not get their degrees, women will soon pass them. I am glad to be informed that more and more women are going beyond of what was expected of them because I think that people shouldn’t discriminate against a person because of their gender. Obviously women are not inferior to men because we have proved that we are just as capable as doing a “man’s” job yet we are still paid less for doing the same job. I knew that there are jobs that are considered a “man’s” but I was wondering where this idea of different jobs for different genders? And does this stereotype carry over into a decision when choosing a career? There was one line in this article that stuck with me “And if women continue to make up the college student majority, there could be more pressure to hire women in decision-making positions.” This was a very interesting because this made it sound like hiring females in decision-making positions would be a slightly negative thing. This lead me to think that it why are men allowed to be assertive and aggressive, they are a boss, but when women show the same traits, they are given negative names. This is a very tough problem to fix but we need to find a way to balance the opportunities for both genders.

Why do you think that the statistics of male and female in school has flipped in the past thirty years?

Do you think the pressure of society plays a part in men and women's choice of career?

Why do you think there are more males in higher positions in the workplace but more women earning more degrees and masters?

Do you think that society has formed stereotype that male drop out/expelled of school more than women? Do you think this plays a role in the statistics that we are finding today?

Do you feel as a male or female and pressure to go into the "opposite" gendered career?

Do you think it is fair for a college to make the standards easier for male applicants just because of their gender? What are some solutions?