공학 전공 선택의 성별 격차 분석

초록

This study aims to examine the gender gap in college major selection with a specific focus on engineering majors as representative of STEM fields in Korean society. By analyzing a comprehensive set of observable factors from the second year of high school to the first year of college, alongside considering college selectivity, we aim to identify the factors contributing to this gender gap. Using data from the Korean Education & Employment Panel II (Waves 1-4), the results are as follows. First, women are about 30%p less likely than men to choose engineering majors, and the explanatory power of various variables at the time of observation for this gender disparity is found to be minimal. Second, the gender effect on engineering major selection varies substantially by university selectivity. The gender gap is more pronounced in non-selective universities compared to selective universities. While all factors exhibit limited explanatory power for the gender gap at selective universities, the factors explained some of the gender gap at non-selective universities. These results hold important implications for policy interventions aimed at reducing gender segregation in college majors, particularly in terms of determining the optimal targets and the timing for interventions.

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