Gender Differences in the Education and Employment of Young Adults

Abstract

WITH THE GOAL OF ACHIEVING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE AND INFLUENCE OF GENDER ON STUDENTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, THIS REVIEW FOCUSES FIRST ON THE LITERATURE RELATED TO GENDER DISPARITIES IN THE GENERAL POPULATION. THE ISSUES ADDRESSED COVER BOTH EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION DEVOTED TO CURRENT INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE DISPARITIES. THE REVIEW FURTHER EXAMINES THE LITERATURE ON GENDER AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO STUDENTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, INCLUDING (A) OVERALL GENDER RATES BY DISABILITY GROUPS, (B) GENDER DISPARITIES IN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH MALES AND FEMALES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND (C) PROPOSED INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES THAT APPEAR PROMISING. THE ARTICLE CONCLUDES BY DISCUSSING IMPLICATIONS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH THAT CAN REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF GENDER DIFFERENCES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.