MORE women than men are going to university and the gap could widen, new research suggests.
A study by the Australian National University looked at enrolments using data spanning close to acentury.
At the time of the 1911 census, there were 539women at university, 22 per cent of the total number of students.
Female participation grew until 1950, when there was a steep decline, to less than 20 per cent, because returning war veterans were given priority enrolment.
Parity was finally achieved in the mid-1980s andwomen now represent 55 per cent of all universitystudents.
Researcher Alison Booth says the fact girls are performing on par or better than boys in school suggests the trend will continue.
"This trend will at least be maintained or could well increase," says Booth, co-author of the study The University Gender Gap in Australia.
While there are more women than men going through universities, female workforce participation rates are about 45 per cent.
Booth believes Australia's below international average performance is due to a lack of government support for women with children. She is sceptical that this will change any time soon.
"The government is talking about maternity leave and better access to childcare, but I haven't seen too much evidence that this is happening," she says.
"It's a really, really important policy area, so I amsurprised that the government isn't pushing for greater changes."
AAP
14/07/2009
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