The Gender Gap in Schooling 2007

April 19-20, 2007
The University of Chicago Gleacher Center
450 North Cityfront Plaza Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60611

The gender distribution of college graduates has changed dramatically since the mid-1980s. In all race and income groups girls outnumber boys in college attendance and graduation. In a recent column in the New York Times, David Brooks noted that, "This year, 133 women will graduate from college for every 100 men. By decade's end, according to Department of Education projections, there will be 142 female graduates for every 100 male graduates. Among African-Americans, there are 200 female grads for every 100 male grads."

Educators and social scientists have numerous theories about the change in the gender balance of college graduates but little solid evidence. This research project will focus the research efforts of several Harris School faculty members and scholars from outside the Harris School on trying to empirically understand the causes and potential social consequences of the change in the gender composition of college attendance. This project will also emphasize the interaction between gender and racial/ethnic differences in the composition of schooling.

This conference is sponsored by the University of Chicago Urban Education Initiative with funding provided by LaSalle Bank.