Educational expectations and the rise in women’s post-secondary attainments

This study examines the gender difference in educational expectations among black, white, and Hispanic high school seniors in 1972 and 1992. We link gender-related changes in expectations to students’ perceived parental encouragement for higher education and access to college-preparatory coursework, and then examine the influence of expectations on subsequent educational attainments. In contrast to 1972, girls in 1992 perceived their parents to be equally or more encouraging of their pursuit of higher education than did boys, and girls were more likely to be enrolled in college preparatory coursework. The changes were most dramatic among white students, and the rise in expectations among high school girls independently contributes to their recent advances in higher education.