Did someone say women in science?

There are marked gender differences in the distribution of graduates by field of study. Within the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), women barely make up 32% of graduates across OECD countries.

More globally, women are more likely to graduate either from the field of business, administration and law, or from health and welfare studies. But patterns can differ across countries.

In Argentina and Indonesia, most women graduate from the field of education. In India, about a third of women earns a degree in social sciences, journalism and information. In Italy, women tend to graduate in the arts and humanities.

The distribution of graduates is influenced by several factors such as the relative popularity of these fields among students, the number of study spaces offered in universities and equivalent institutions, and the degree structure of the various disciplines in each country.

But gender stereotyping of jobs and occupations, along with gendered roles in personal and professional life, may lead to different career expectations for girls and boys, and influence the decisions that perpetuate gender-related differences in the choice of studies and careers.

See more: OECD Data indicator "Tertiary graduates by field".