About
Our Challenge
Since the 1990s there has been no long-run change in the proportion of women in the economic field of study. Currently, there is only 1 female economic major for every 3 male economic majors. Within this discrepancy, studies show that women who take introductory courses in economics, have a higher probability of majoring in the subject if they obtain a high grade.. However, this is not the case for males students, who tend to major in the field of economics regardless of their grade in early introductory courses. These statistics reveal a shortage of encouragement and general community between women in the field of economics as well as, an overall lack of awareness of the variety of career paths within economics for women.
Since the 1990s there has been no long-run change in the proportion of women in the economic field of study. Currently, there is only 1 female economic major for every 3 male economic majors. Within this discrepancy, studies show that women who take introductory courses in economics, have a higher probability of majoring in the subject if they obtain a high grade.. However, this is not the case for males students, who tend to major in the field of economics regardless of their grade in early introductory courses. These statistics reveal a shortage of encouragement and general community between women in the field of economics as well as, an overall lack of awareness of the variety of career paths within economics for women.
Our Mission
GW Women in Economics seeks to increase women’s representation and support women’s participation in economics at GWU and in the broader profession. The organization seeks to address the demonstrated lack of representation of women in the field of economics, beginning at the pipeline by fostering interest among students, increasing the visibility of women pursuing economic degrees, providing professional networking opportunities that promote the advancement of women in the professions, and creating a forum in which issues of common interest can be explored.
Our Community
We are far from alone in pursuing these goals. Our sisters in economics at the University of California Berkeley, Yale, Princeton, the Illinois College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the University of Northern Carolina, Colorado State University, the University of Puget Sound, the University of Washington, the University of Chicago, and Harvard support both undergraduate and graduate organizations that provide empowering communities for women in economic studies.