Figure 3: Percentage of Students and Degree Recipients Who Are Women, 

 1999-2000 



Percent 

 70 



63 



60 



50 



40 



30 



20 



10 



16 



I 



Source: Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System {IPEDS). 



The proportion of bachelors degrees in various science areas awarded to 

 women has grown relatively steadily since the mid-1960s, with the 

 exception of degrees in mathematics, which fluctuated within the narrow 

 range of 33 to 39 percent. (See fig. 4.) Similarly, the percentage of PhDs 

 awarded to women has generally increased in these science fields, 

 including mathematics, since 1966. Women made the greatest gains in life 

 sciences. (See fig. 5.) 



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GAO-04-639 Gender Issues 



