Question – The chart below shows the different levels of post-school qualifications in Australia and the proportion of men and women who held them in 1999.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
In 1999, Australia witnessed diverse post-school qualifications across genders, as depicted in the provided chart. The qualifications were categorized into three levels: Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, and Postgraduate Degree.
At the Certificate level, a higher proportion of women (approximately 30%) held qualifications compared to men, who lagged behind at approximately 20%. This indicated a notable gender gap in favor of women at this entry-level qualification.
Moving to the Bachelor’s Degree level, both genders showed a significant increase in qualification attainment. Women surpassed men, constituting nearly 25%, while men trailed closely at around 20%. Despite the overall rise, women still maintained a slight lead in this category.
At the highest educational echelon, the Postgraduate Degree level, men experienced a noticeable surge in qualification attainment, reaching nearly 10%, while women’s proportion remained relatively stable at around 5%. This illustrated a substantial gender gap in favor of men at the postgraduate level.
In summary, the chart underscores gender disparities in post-school qualifications in Australia in 1999. Women exhibited higher proportions at the Certificate and Bachelor’s Degree levels, while men took the lead at the Postgraduate Degree level. This data sheds light on the evolving educational landscape and gender dynamics in Australia during the late 20th century.
