Gender DisparitiesInequalities in the Classroom by Fields of Study

Important QuestionsHow do you define gender disparity?

What is a gender disparity in education?

How do you identify the gender disparity in education?

Specifically college and post-secondary educationPurdue University

What causes a gender disparity?

What can be done to eliminate gender disparities?

What would the educational system look like without gender disparities?

Group ActivityBreak into two groups

Male and Female

Objective Each group will identify the other gender’s

perceived academic areas of strength and weaknesses

ie. Math, Chemistry, Biology, English, History, Psychology

This will be done by writing down subject topics that the other gender is supposedly dominant, more efficient, or more skilled in.

Groups will then trade observations showing the supposed strengths of the other gender

How to Define Gender Disparity

Disparity is defined as a “lack of similarity or equality”

Gender is defined as a “classification of sex”Male, Female, Androgynous, etc.

This broadly defines Gender Disparity as a lack of equality or similarity for those classified as of a different sex.

A Gender Disparity can form, or be in place, in several different fields and topics

Important to understanding presence in life and every day world

What is a Gender Disparity in Regards to Education

Lack of Equality in:

Opportunity for education or extra curricular activities

Resources and exposure

The percentage of student populous

Representation within student or professional organizations

Representation in professional field

Opinions on Gender Disparities in Education at Purdue

Interviewed specialists on the topic of gender disparities in education and asked questions on the topic

Do they exist?

What fields of study do they exist in?

In what colleges or majors are disparities present?

To what extent do disparities exist?

What is a Gender Disparity

Barbara ClarkDirector

Science Diversity Office, College of Science

“Gender disparities do exist throughout the educational system, top to bottom. Typically they exist at colleges and universities in S.T.E.M. fields. These disparities can be extreme, as high as a, or higher than, 90% male to 10% female or even vice versa.”

What is a Gender Disparity

“Disparities exist and are present in all levels of education. Primarily these disparities exist in either colleges high in S.T.E.M. fields or in professional programs. These disparities can range drastically by college and major. Namely a disparity is whenever a person feels like they don’t belong in a major or profession because of their being a minority.”

Beth HollowayDirector

Women in Engineering

How to Identify the Gender Disparities in EducationUse the Purdue University student population

as a sample of the education system

Cite data on the number of students, male and female

Observe gender and demographic break down of colleges

Find gender breakdown by major or field of study

Disparities will statistically be noted by a consistent, major inequality between genders for a major or college

Perceived Disparities By College

Divide into four groups

Write down what colleges you think are male and female dominated from these choices.

Engineering, Technology, Science, Education, Health Human Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine

Estimate figures of Male % to Female %

Winning group gets candy!

Purdue UniversityGender Disparities

Undergraduate Student Population: 30,776

Undergraduate Student Ratio: 57% male 43% female

College % Male % Female

Engineering 80.8 19.2

Technology 86.3 13.7

Science 63.3 36.7

Education 18.4 81.6

Health and Human Sciences

26.3 73.7

Veterinary Medicine 4.1 95.9

College of Engineering by Majors

Major % Male % Female

Aeronautical and Astronautical 82 18

Agricultural and Biological 60 40

Biomedical 66 34

Chemical 68 32

Civil 78 22

Construction 86 14

Electrical and Computer 90 10

Industrial 74 26

Interdisciplinary 69 31

Materials 77 23

Mechanical 87 13

Nuclear 87 13

Opinion on Identifying Gender Disparities

Beth HollowayDirector

Women in Engineering

“The numbers, percentages, and statistics of a disparity are symptoms and indications of it. A gender disparity is not identified by the first instance of inequality, rather gender disparity is identified by its continuous inequalities that discourage the minority.”

What Causes Gender Disparities

Cultural and Social Values and their view and impact on:

Gender Identity

Gender Roles

Gender Strengths

What Can be Done to Eliminate Gender Disparities

Shift cultural and social paradigm More liberal ideas on strengths and weaknesses

by gender More neutral classifications of interests

Focused Programs for under represented genders Women in Engineering Women in Science

Professional Organizations Focus on the professional education of the under

represented gender in that field

The Education System Without Gender Disparities

Without Gender DisparitiesBeth Holloway

DirectorWomen in Engineering

“Without gender disparities the Purdue and the education system would have semi-equal numbers in all fields. Somewhere in the range of a plus or minus 7% in either direction. The topic of a gender dominated fields wouldn’t even exist. Students would have more free choice over their major and interests. There would be no predisposition to a gender being better suited for a topic or field.”

Without Gender Disparities

Barbara ClarkDirector

Science Diversity Office, College of Science

“If gender disparities did not exist in the educational system, at Purdue, or else where; the populous of any organization would roughly match the population of it’s environment or surrounding area. If that be 60/40, or however the population is divided, the organization would be that as well.”

Potential Action For Change

Provide help to existing organizations for genders that are a disparity Aid in spreading

awareness

Start organization for under represented gender in a specific field or major

Work towards changes in social perception

Potential Action for Charity

Raise or donate funds to support gender minority programs

Generate publicity for a program or organization dealing with gender disparity

Work with programs focused on gender disparities

Action of ChangeVolunteered at

Hanna Community Center

Worked with young students on homework and study problems

Enforce good study habits and practices while encouraging students

Action of CharityMarch For Dimes

Collected change for organization

Raised over $50 to donate

The End

Resourceshttp://www.purdue.edu/datadigest/students/

index.htmlhttp://www.purdue.edu/datadigest/students/school/index.html

National Academy of Engineers. Changing the Conversation : Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering. National Academic Press. Washington, DC (June 2008)

Purdue University. Women in Engineering Program: Annual Report 2010-2011. Purdue Marketing and Media. West Lafayette, IN. 2011

Fisher, Allan and Margolis, Jane. Unlocking the Clubhouse: Women in Computing. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. c. 2002

SlidesThomas 6,7,8, 13, 14,17,18

McCormick 9,10,11,12,15,19

Angela 1,2,3,4,5