important questions how do you define gender disparity? what is a gender disparity in education? how...
TRANSCRIPT
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