Engineering, technology and science disciplines and gender difference: a case study among Indian students

ABSTRACT

It is proposed to examine the argument that females cannot perform better in engineering and science fields because of their poor mathematical or logical reasoning. The major reason for the reduced number of females in the above fields in India is the socio-cultural aversion towards females choosing the field and restriction in providing higher education for them by their parents. The present study shows that the females who get the opportunity to study engineering and science perform equal to or better than their male counterparts. An analysis of CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) of 2631 students who have completed their engineering or science programme in one of the top engineering colleges in India for five years shows that female academic performance is equal to or better than that of males. Mathematical, logical, verbal and mechanical reasoning are tested while calculating CGPA.

KEYWORDS:

• Academic performance
• gender difference
• engineering and science

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Reena Cheruvalath is an educator and works as Assistant Professor at BITS Pilani K. K. Birla Goa campus. She has done her Ph.D. in the field of Philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science from Calicut University, Kerala and has done her post doctoral research from Indian Institute of Technology (Kanpur). Her research interests include Professional Ethics, Educational psychology, and Higher education. She has published articles and book reviews in the field of philosophy and education in national and international journals.