International Perspectives on Gender and Higher Education

Despite improved access to higher education for women, the distribution of women and men varies considerably between different fields of study. The chapters in this edited collection explore the participation status of women in higher education across the varying socio-economic and sociological backgrounds observed in different countries and regions. Diving into the differing social and state intervention policies, individual motives of participation and additional gender inequalities including regional and ethnic disparities, this book offers readers a better understanding of the drivers of gendered trends in higher education, such as the evidently low presence of women in certain scientific and technical disciplines. The analysis focuses on the social construction of gender differences, as well as the roles played by the economy, culture, religion, legal background, and the internal dynamics of society. Ultimately, this book provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments concerning the presence of women in higher education in both developed and developing countries, resulting in a clear picture of the current situation, and how the future might look.

Christine Fontanini is Professor in the Department of Education at the University of Lorraine, France. Her research interests focus on post-secondary orientation of students and the relationship between gender and education. K.M. Joshi is Professor of Economics of Higher Education in the Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University, India. His research interests include governance and equity in higher education, higher education reforms and private higher education.  Saeed Paivandi is Professor at the University of Lorraine, France. His areas of research and specialisation are sociology of education, higher education policy, learning and teaching in higher education and adult education.