Article
Is Finance for Me? Gender Differences in Choice of Finance as a College Major
Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice
(2020)
Abstract
Using a sample of senior college students, this study investigates why there are so few female students choosing finance as their major and the motivating factors for students when choosing a major. We find that very few female students as compared to male students consider choosing finance as a major, and more female students said given another opportunity, they would not choose finance as a major. Female students appear to be motivated by family members, while male students appear to be motivated by increased job opportunities. More female students cited a perceived lack of quantitative skills for not choosing finance as their major; however, female students who have a higher perception of their quantitative skills are more likely to choose finance as their major. Regardless of gender, most students say they do not choose finance as a major because they do not see themselves in the finance industry, or they simply prefer other business majors.
Keywords
- Higher Education,
- finance major,
- gender,
- finance education,
- College major
Disciplines
Publication Date
2020
DOI
10.33423/jhetp.v20i8.3231
Publisher Statement
This article was published by North American Business Press in Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 2021, Volume 21, Issue 11. DOI: 10.33423/jhetp.v21i11.4664.
Citation Information
Ronia Hawash, Sheryl-Ann K. Stephen and Marleen McCormick-Pritchard. "Is Finance for Me? Gender Differences in Choice of Finance as a College Major" Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice Vol. 20 Iss. 8 (2020) p. 72 - 85 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/sheryl-ann_stephen/20/