Was the Pill a factor in gender differences in higher education?

07/07/13

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.dius.gov.uk/research/documents/DIUS-RR-08-14.pdf

The article above, "Gender Gaps in Higher Education participation,"Broecke and Hamed 2008, I found  that by 1992 young women's participation rates in higher education in England had caught up with men  (it actually continued to widen, such that by 2005/6 there was a 7.2% participation gap in favour of women). 

This study includes a longitudinal survey of young people aged 16+ from 1972-2000 showing how over this period women's participation in higher education grew. 

Age Participation Index (API) by Gender, 1972-2000 for English domiciled students: 

Source: Gender Gaps in Higher Education Participation, Broecke and Hamad DIUS Research Report 2008

API 1972-2000, and Higher Education Initial Participation Rate 2000 to 2005 

These gender changes are also seen in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the 2005/6 figures which show that women in all four countries in the United Kingdom are more likely to go to university than men. 

Source: Gender Gaps in Higher Education Participation, Broecke and Hamad DIUS Research Report 2008 API 1972-2000, and Higher Education Initial Participation Rate 2000 to 2005. *2004/5 data for Wales 

The research report was really useful in providing a longitudinal survey of gender gaps in higher education. By proving data for both men and women I was able to construct a bar-chart, making the important point that women's participation rates in higher education now out-strip men's. I now need to find evidence on the growth in use of contraceptive pill to see if I can establish a relationship between women's further education participation and their control over their own fertility.