As countries get richer and better run, the number of women choosing STEM degrees actually starts to drop.
In Kazakhstan, researchers found that while GDP, internet access, and women's employment rose over a decade, female STEM enrollment dropped from 38% to 27%. This supports the 'Gender Equality Paradox,' where increased prosperity seems to allow individuals to move toward gender-stereotypical career paths rather than away from them.
The Price of Prosperity: Fewer women choosing STEM as emerging economies get richer
SSRN · 6427301
This study investigates the impact of improved living standards on women's enrollment in STEM majors at universities in a rapidly developing economy in Central Asia. The analysis used administrative data of 442,336 STEM students enrolled between 2012 and 2022. A linear regression model revealed a significant negative trend, with the proportion of women declining from 38% in 2012 to 27% in 2022, with p<0.001. The model has an R-squared value of 0.96, and the trend's significance was con