WOMAN’S PARTICIPATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND SCIENCE IN MÉXICO

Abstract

Science and Technology (S&T) has proven to be a key factor for national development. As such, special attention should be paid to public policies and strategies regarding education in these fields, which could eventually lead to a growing and highly qualified scientific community. Even though mexican women have acquired equal access to all levels of education, they are still underrepresented in certain fields of knowledge as well as in Research and Development (R&D) careers. Unfortunately, no public policy has ever been designed to overcome this social handicap. In order to identify mechanisms that prevent women's enrollment in S&T, this paper discusses some characteristics of female education in México, with a historical perspective. It also gives an overview of women's formal education, based on official statistics on female participation in different S&T programs at graduate level, particularly in the late 1990's. Despite the lack of information to carry out complete longitudinal analysis, we were able to gather some data on women's participation in S&T endeavors to complement quantitative information on female school enrollment.

Palabras clave: Science and technology (S&T), females’ education, research and development (R&D)

Volumen 2, Número 1
Ene-Jun 2005

Director

Said Infante Gil

Comité Asesor Editorial Interno

Ma. Eugenia Chávez Arellano
Juan Antonio Leos Rodríguez
Jaime Matus Gardea
Jacinta Palerm Viqueira
Verónica Vázquez García
Emma Zapata Martelo
Pilar Alberti Manzanares