Dimensões da estratificação horizontal de gênero no ensino superior brasileiro

Abstract

This dissertation investigates dimensions of horizontal gender stratification in Brazilian higher education. Understanding the inequalities between men and women as categorical inequalities, one observes the unequal access of gender in certain hierarchies established within the Brazilian higher education system. Higher education hierarchies are associated with mechanisms of differentiation between institutions and university diplomas that have an effect on unequal gains in the labor market. Gender and social origin variables intervene in the possibilities of experiencing higher education, acting on the paths and decisions made. It starts from the literature review about the phenomenon of expansion and differentiation of higher education and inequalities in educational opportunities, followed by discussions about how new opportunities are distributed by male and female peers. In particular, we analyzed how inequalities associated with higher education hierarchies vary according to the combinations and interactions between gender and social origin of individuals. The microdata from the National Student Performance Examination (Enade) census for the 2015, 2016 and 2017 cycle were used. Social origin was measured by parental education and family income. Descriptive statistics particularly portray the gender distribution among higher education hierarchies and segmentations in Brazil. The predicted probabilities were estimated using binary logistic regression models, as well as the absolute and proportional differences between the probabilities of being in courses that offer possibilities of greater economic returns in the labor market, hard sciences and more select universities. The results show a greater female presence in subordinate positions according to the established hierarchy of institutional differentiation in education as well as marked gender segregation by the areas of knowledge of higher education, with female disadvantage in access to the areas of hard sciences and university careers of greater economic gains in the Brazilian occupational organization. Gender inequalities in higher education occur for all groups of social origin completing this educational stage, but interactions between social origin and gender cause discrepancies to widen between those with disadvantages of origin and to narrow between those with the advantages of source. In the South and Southeast Brazilian regions, gender differences tend to be greater.