Vijay Garg
World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual Gender Gap Report, 2023, India was ranked 127 out of 146 countries in terms of gender parity – an improvement of eight places from last year. While India had closed 64.3% of the overall gender gap, the report said; it had reached only 36.7 % parity on economic participation and opportunity.
In an ever-evolving global workforce, the gender gap’s persistence in both education and employment remains a challenge that transcends geographical boundaries. Across the globe, gender-based disparities in education persist, creating complex challenges. The nexus between education enrolment rates, completion statistics, academic achievements, and the fields of study chosen by individuals is instrumental in shaping their career trajectories. An example in this context is the underrepresentation of females in STEM disciplines-science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These fields not only offer higher remuneration but also promise stability and growth. However, this lack of diversity keeps certain jobs specialised, which in turn makes it more likely for people to stay in particular job types.
Shifting trends
The landscape of higher education is experiencing a transformation driven by women’s increasing presence. Historically, women’s enrolment in higher education has been a cause for concern, especially in developing countries where socio-economic and socio-cultural barriers limit their access to colleges and universities. However, an encouraging shift is occurring as women’s enrolment in higher education has outpaced that of men over the past four decades.
According to a recent report by the Institute of International Education (IIE), female enrolment in higher education worldwide has expanded nearly twice as rapidly as male enrolment. This surge can be attributed to improved equity and access, heightened income prospects, and the internationally acknowledged necessity to reduce the gender disparity across all education levels.
The role of economic growth
Economic growth plays a pivotal role in fostering gender equity and countries such as India and China serve as prime examples. The economic development of these nations has propelled greater female enrolment in both domestic and international higher education programmes.
India has made significant strides in promoting gender equity in higher education. According to the All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2019-20, female enrolment now surpasses that of males, with a gross enrolment ratio of 27.3% compared to 26.9% for males. This marks an 18% increase in female enrolment from 2015-16 to 2019-20. While the gender gap in STEM fields remains a global challenge, India is making progress. Despite India producing many female STEM graduates, females constitute less than 15% of researchers in STEM fields. However, data reveals a growing number of Indian women pursuing STEM studies in the United States, particularly at the master’s level. Initiatives like the Indo-US Fellowship for Women in STEM are also working to close this gender gap. The winds of change are blowing, enabling females to access higher education abroad and pursue their dreams in top-notch institutions. Alongside economic growth and the breakdown of socio-cultural barriers, targeted scholarships and fellowships funded by governments, multilateral organisations, and private entities are paving the way for females in higher education.
Nevertheless, addressing the gender gap in international mobility and STEM studies requires collective efforts from individuals, society, and governments. Only through continued commitment and collaboration, can we ensure that women around the world have equal opportunities to excel in higher education and beyond.