The Rise of Women in Education

I have often read, heard and seen that women are indeed faring much better academically than their male counterparts. As someone who works for equality and access for all who seek higher education, nothing could make me happier than the fact that this particular gender gap has narrowed so substantially – although not completely (i.e. STEM). Growing up in a home where the struggles of women’s rights and gender equality were often dinner table conversations, I feel a twinge of guilt in wondering what is happening to all of the men and what can be done to ensure they find their place in a rapidly changing and evolving society.

Gender equality on many fronts, in addition to education, has certainly not been achieved. Women still make less than men for equivalent work and the executive glass ceilings are all too often encountered by women in many corporate boardrooms. Violence against women is still endemic and women are disproportionately left to economically and physically support children.  However, women have made historic gains in the workforce and have propelled even further in higher education by many accounts and I have often considered the possible reasons for this historic advance.  

A new book released this year entitled, The Rise of Women, conclude that women are more likely to attend college, perform better academically and choose other fields than STEM disciplines. The research conducted by the authors suggested one of the main causes for this disparity between gender achievements is due to school engagement in the primary schooling years - boys are less engaged and girls are more engaged. Additionally, the book discusses social and behavioral skill deficits experienced by boys that lead to lower educational readiness at multiple stages as compared to their female counterparts.

The authors also suggested that men are “overly optimistic” regarding their future income earning potential leading them to “under invest in education.” The book also discusses that the gender inequality gap most prevalent for those who attend college are the “lack of gender integration among various fields of study” – STEM fields are overly represented by men.  It is important to note that the book suggests that choice of college majors by men and women happen more at the K-12 level and less so at the college level.

As a student development practitioner, I wonder how we can better serve both men and women in the higher education environment and how to do our part to help ameliorate some of the social forces leading to gender inequality at the higher education level. I feel that CCD’s Urban Male Initiative (UMI) program is a very innovative and effective resource that helps promote male student engagement both at the educational and community level.  I also know of student groups and organizations that focus on exposing and encouraging women to explore STEM careers as viable career options.   

I would invite others to share, in the comments section, their thoughts and / or best practices regarding how to counteract any of the above mentioned social forces leading to gender inequality at all levels of education.  

A Classic Text on Working with Others

Whether you are an advisor, teacher, or administrator, the importance of being attentive to relationships and emotions cannot be understated. As long as we higher education professionals are working with humans, and not robots, this will remain imperative to the work that we do.

It is plain to say that some people we more naturally relate with and understand, and others less so. This comes about through varying personalities, shared and divergent experiences, similar and different emotional profiles, and so on. For example, as an advisor, I often times work with a student older and more experienced than myself, or a student with eight times the street cred, or a student with a chip on their shoulder, or a student coming from a very different place. Yet it is contingent upon me to establish trusting relationships and a genuine emotional connection with each individual, regardless of the ease or difficulty of doing so.

Growing up, I remember my dad reading the newspaper every night. However, he only had one book in his library: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. From a young age, I was captivated by this book: I loved all the books in my own burgeoning library, and thus was very curious about the singular tome in my father's; even more so, the title of the book always struck me as odd. Out of serendipity, I recently cross paths with this book again, 20 years later. Out of sheer curiosity, I decided to give it a go.

A classic text first penned in the 1930's, How to Win Friends and Influence People had sold 15 million copies by 1981, while being translated into nearly every written language in the world. So the jacket informed me, as I turned the book over in my hands. Still, I could not see the title as anything other than a euphemism for How to Manipulate People and Get Your Way. Just as before, it seemed a strange topic.

To my surprise, though, there are many interesting and good strategies outlined in the book (sprinkled between plenty of cultural anachronisms - interesting in themselves). Certainly, one could use these strategies to manipulate people and get your way. But just the same, one could use these strategies to show genuine interest in others and expand your circle of concern. The underlying objective depends on the current status of your ego. The Jedi Force is used for both good and evil.

The grand strategy outlined by Carnegie - translated into contemporary language - is to value people and honor their contributions. When we escape our own narrow concerns, and go out of our way to truly listen to what others say and feel, then we can establish a strong foundation for partnering toward shared outcomes.

This is an invaluable strategy for building relationships and emotional connections, especially in situations where this does not come about naturally. At our first meeting, I always start by asking questions, listening, and learning as much as I can about a person. I make it a point to affirm the strengths and accomplishments that I hear in their story. I tune in to the emotions tied their memories, and attempt to put myself in their shoes. I am mindful of checking my own judgments, and open myself to the vibrancy and perspective of the person sitting across from me.

Consequently, the foundation of human relationship is built on trust, and many internal defenses and biases are eased. In other words, I have earned their respect.

Dale, I have something to add. In my view, it is more than just influencing another person.  By being true to the process, and allowing for it to reciprocate, then you too are being influenced by another person. And through such a process, we too grow - in our role as higher education professionals, in our role as people. When we open to this process, then we truly are genuine.