Gender segregation in higher educational attainment in Australia 1978–94.

In this paper the extent and change of the gender segregation of course completions across fields of study in higher education over the period 1978–94 in Australia is measured. It is argued that similar forms of measurement are appropriate in documenting changing patterns of attainment in higher education by gender, as those which are used for measuring occupational gender segregation. The issues relating to the measurement of gender segregation are briefly explored. Over the period 1978–86, women and men exhibited a more integrated distribution of course completions, as measured by the Karmel and Maclachlan index of (occupational) segregation. Although women continued to raise their share of completions over the period 1987–94, there was little change in the extent of gender segregation in aggregate, and segregation increased in Masters and Bachelors courses. Reference is also made to the impact of changes in the Higher Education Contributory Scheme in 1996 on the gender composition of undergraduate course completions. Policies designed to attract women into atypical Higher Education courses are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]