ISSN 2756-3456
Global Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 6 (6), pp. 001-011, June, 2017. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Higher education of women: Does gender stereotyping matter?
Asis Kumar Dandapat1* and Debjani Sengupta2
1V. T. T. College, Midnapore-721 101, West Bengal, India.
2Department of Education, University of Calcutta, Kolkata-700 027, India.
Accepted 21 March, 2017
Abstract
Gender inequality in higher education is not one homogeneous phenomenon, but a collection of disparate and interlinked problems in our society. It exist because of discrimination in the family and societal institutions and social, cultural, and religious norms that perpetuate stereotypes, practices and beliefs that are detrimental to women. Based on the responses to four semi-structured interview schedules and one check list of 400 post-graduate students in Vidyasagar University in West Bengal, this article investigates the influence of gender stereotyping on women’s higher education. Several indicators are considered and investigated using non-parametric technique. Given the overall patriarchal structure of Indian society, the results indicate that gender stereotyping produces low self– esteem among female students in our society and higher education system is not sufficient itself for developing the necessary attitudes among today’s young adults that are needed to succeed in a democratic country-where human dignity is respected.
Key words: Gender stereotypes, gendered division of labour, traits, self-concepts.