Gender gaps in participation in adult education in Europe: examining factors and barriers

Stoilova, R., Boeren, E. and Ilieva-Tichkova, P. (2023) Gender gaps in participation in adult education in Europe: examining factors and barriers. In: Holford, J., Boyadjeva, P., Clancy, S., Hefler, G. and Studená, I. (eds.) Lifelong Learning, Young Adults and the Challenges of Disadvantage in Europe. Series: Palgrave studies in adult education and lifelong learning. Palgrave Macmillan: Cham, pp. 143-167. ISBN 9783031141089 (doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-14109-6_6)

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Abstract

This chapter asks how barriers to equal participation in adult education play out differently between (a) men and women and (b) women from different class and ethnic backgrounds. European Social Survey and Adult Education Survey data analyses confirm that low social origin is a significant barrier. Other socio-economic and socio-demographic characteristics can also act as barriers. The chapter draws attention to intersectionality: multiple simultaneous disadvantages, including gender (for women), social origin (for adults whose parents have basic or lower levels of education), and having an ethnic minority or migrant background. Women are less likely to receive financial support from their employer, though more likely to do so from public institutions. Ethnic minority status has a stronger negative effect for women than for men. Mediterranean and post-socialist welfare regimes reduce the effects of intersectionality less than social-democratic regimes.

Item Type:Book Sections
Additional Information:The project and the open access publication of this book were supported by the European Commission under its Horizon 2020 research programme (Grant No. 693989).
Status:Published
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Boeren, Professor Ellen
Authors: Stoilova, R., Boeren, E., and Ilieva-Tichkova, P.
Subjects:L Education > L Education (General)
L Education > LF Individual institutions (Europe)
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Education
Publisher:Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN:9783031141089
Published Online:24 March 2023
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2023 The Authors
First Published:First published in Lifelong Learning, Young Adults and the Challenges of Disadvantage in Europe: 143-167
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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