The Gender Performance Flip-Flop

by Susan Welch, Hewitt Research –

It begins in early education: Girls academically outperform boys, starting in primary school . The problem is nearly universal, happening in the United States, the United Kingdom , the United Arab Emirates , and, in fact, in all 43 countries studied by Unesco and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Particularly in reading, and sometimes in math and science, girls do better in school than boys.

Hard evidence to explain this imbalance cannot be found, but theories abound. Some suggest boys have more difficulty with language skills, giving girls a natural advantage. Other theories debate whether classrooms are designed to meet boys’ needs, or wonder whether boys’ brains simply develop a bit later than girls’ brains.

In previous decades, the gender gap in primary and middle school did not persist beyond high school, mostly because girls often chose not to pursue education beyond high school. In the 70s that trend began to change; by 1979 women had a slight edge in undergraduate enrollment. And by the 1990s women started to steamroll past men: Ratios of men to women on college campuses tend to hover around 55 to 45 (women to men). Higher enrollment is backed by higher performance: Women tend to get better grades and earn more honors.

In fact, by 2005, women took the lead in graduation rates—finishing their education in higher numbers than their male counterparts.

A victory for women?

Actually, the gender imbalance on college campuses poses social difficulties and even safety problems. A recent Chicago Tribune article speculated that the practice of “hooking up”—pursuing a sexual relationship before having an actual relationship—is on the rise, and in part results from the surplus of women found on college campuses. Men can call the shots. Various related issues abound.

Far more troubling, though, is that the academic gender imbalance does nothing to sway the employment gender imbalance. Sure, men may under perform academically, and they may graduate in fewer numbers, but they are more likely to be employed at a higher salary than women.

How can this be? Women academically outperform men, and are graduating from college in larger numbers than men, but still are underpaid. They still are dramatically underrepresented in board rooms and at the C-level.

A recent study of MBA graduates finds that the wage gap is real, but small initially. After 10 to 16 years, men dramatically outpace women in terms of income. Key factors: Men log more hours at the job, and have fewer career interruptions .

For employers, this should be a wake-up call. High-achieving women’s contributions are being limited by a lack of workplace flexibility which allows those who put a high priority on family life to continue achieving on the job as well. Without these women in positions of leadership, businesses are failing to make the best use of some of their potentially most valuable employees.

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