Women outnumber men at colleges and universities across thecountry, but demographic disparities in the workplace continue toshow the opposite, according to a recent government study.
According to the National Center for Educational Statistics,women account for approximately 56 percent of the number ofstudents enrolled in American institutions of higher education --more than 16 percent.
Fall 2003 saw the most disproportionate ratio of men to women oncampus, according to U of M demographic statistics. For every fourmen on campus there are six women, a statistic that reflects atrend across most colleges in the United States.
Although more people are attending college than ever before, theincrease is primarily due to women.
Women have outnumbered men on colleges since 1987, but the gaphas not been this wide since the end of World War II, when therewas a drastic decline in the number of young males in the UnitedStates.
The trend is expected to continue, said Reginald Martin, aprofessor and active recruiter of minority male students oncampus.
"Men think it's more masculine and interesting to pick up a ballthan to pick up a book," he said.
The decline of male sports on college campuses is one of thepossible reasons men are less likely to enroll in college. TheEducation Amendments Act of 1972 barred discrimination in anyeducational activity that receives federal funding, causing women'ssports to thrive and men's sports to wither.
Many other theories have been devised to explain the lack ofmale interest in education.
One study suggests that the problem begins as early askindergarten, where the educational environment is not suited toboys' needs and learning styles.
"Boys are taught that if they study hard and do well in school,they're sissies," said Cynthia Pelak, U of M sociology professor ofgender studies. "They take it as an attack on their manhood anddon't pursue academic avenues."
The result is that by high school, the average male is a yearand a half behind the average female in reading and writing,leading to less interest in college, the study says.
"This is detrimental and dangerous for the low-income male,"Pelak said. "The wealthy male can rely on his affluent parents toget a job or to go to a prestigious school, but the poor male staysbehind and is trapped in a low-paying job."
Some students at The U of M say they have noticed a decline inmale students and an increase in females.
"I think it's a huge problem," said Randy Wilson, junior Englishmajor. "There have consistently been more females in college thanmen since the '80s, but ironically, the workforce is predominantlymale."
Women have managed to obtain jobs in the workforce but have notobtained equal pay or equal mobility, according to Pelak.
Many feminist scholars and students attest that the discrepancybetween the college gap and the workforce is another example of thedisadvantages faced by women.
"Many men are capable of making a good living without a collegeeducation because they already have the upper hand," said ShadiyahAlMaleki, sophomore dance and theatre major.
