Woman Between Islam and Western Society
3. Western Woman
~ 126 ~
completed four years of college increased from 16 to
25 percent, to equal that of men.
In 1989, the majority of degrees at all levels except
doctorate were earned by women: whereas in 1970,
43 percent of the Bachelor’s degrees and 39 percent
of the Master’s degrees were awarded to women, in
1989 it was 53 and 52 percent respectively. Though
only 36 percent of the doctorates were awarded to
women, that was a substantial jump from 13
percent in 1970.
Significantly, too, the proportion of degree in
science and engineering earned by women
showed a dramatic increase from 1960 to 1990. In
1989, 50 percent of all biological science degrees
were earned by women, up from 28 percent in
1970. The proportion of degrees awarded to
women in computer science and the physical
sciences doubled from 14 percent in 1970 to 31 and
30 percent respectively in 1989. Mathematics, also
a traditional preserve of men, saw an increase in
degrees awarded to women during the same
period of from 37 to 49 percent. And in business,
47 percent of the degrees went to women,
