Two-third of Indian students studying in the US are men. Ditto for Australia and UK, according to a latest study. This happens despite women are more keen to study abroad and scores of them hailing from upper class and higher middle-class.
Two-third of Indian students studying in the US are men. Ditto for Australia and UK, according to a latest study. This happens despite women are more keen to study abroad and scores of them hailing from upper class and higher middle-class.
Is this a global phenomenon?
The overall international education scenario seems tilted towards men. In the US, which hosts over 8.8 lakh international students every year, 44% of foreign students were women, says the latest Open Doors Report released by the Department of State annually.
Any exceptions?
While India and the west Asian countries send more male students than female to the US, countries like China, Malaysia, US and Germany see more girls than boys going abroad for studies. For instance, 33,345 female Chinese students are currently studying in the UK as against 23,190 male students, says the data of Higher Education Statistics Agency, UK. At 4,430, female students comprise 36% of the total Indian students population in UK.
Is the gap reducing?
Yes. Statistics of Australian education international says that female overseas students enrolment has gone up from 42% in 1985 to 48% in 2014. The proportion of female students from India going to UK has improved from 23% in 2009 to 36% in 2013-14.
What do parents say?
More and more Indian parents having a girl as the only child are sending their daughters abroad, while families having both sons and daughters prefer male child over the girl, on the grounds of higher education cost, security concern, cultural reasons.
"Sending children abroad for a two-year PG course requires at least Rs 20 lakh. We need to spend an equal or more amount for her marriage also. A normal middle-class parents can't afford the two," said Shalini Mane, a banker.
What do experts say?
Ritu Dewan, who specialises in gender economics, blames it on declining gender ratio and cultural norms. "Indians weigh economic returns while deciding to send their children abroad. They don't want to spend on girls as the return would go to other family. Besides, they also fear about their daughter having a relationship or marrying a foreigner though they are fine if their sons do so."
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