Mapping the Reverse Gender Gap in Higher Education in Romania within the European Context

This paper aims to analyse, through a longitudinal quantitative approach using secondary analysis, the phenomenon of the reverse gender gap in education, specifically in higher education. It seeks to document and examine the occurrence and evolution of this phenomenon in Romania and in other European countries. Initially, the gender studies were primarily focused on the challenges faced by women and girls in social structures and institutions that hindered their opportunities in education, the labour market, family life and so on. However, in recent decades, while the participation of girls in higher education has increased significantly, a new trend has emerged: the participation of boys has been declining year after year in the majority of countries around the world. Therefore, this paper studies the quantitative and temporal dimensions of male students’ participation in higher education. By mapping this gap, the study tries to uncover the underlying factors contributing to this trend, such as shifts in labour market demands, changes in educational policies, and evolving societal attitudes towards gender roles.