Do Men and Women Do College Differently? Evidence from Time Use Data

• In Event: 525 - Regular Session. Inequality and Diversity in Higher Education

Abstract

Recent research shows that women exceed men in terms of college completion and performance. Although social scientists have documented this trend in many contexts, we are just beginning to uncover the behavioral mechanisms behind the gender gap. We use time use data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Freshmen (N=3,422) to examine how women and men compare in their time use across the college years. Using latent transition analysis, we show that college students follow gendered lifestyle patterns. Many women are consistently found in a “Serious Student” lifestyle, characterized by time spent on academics and work for pay. In contrast, men often exhibit a “Play Hard” lifestyle defined by partying, athletics, and student group activities. Even if men eventually become Serious Students, it is usually only after two years of Playing Hard. We argue that women’s more conscientious time use is integral to the gender gap in college performance and completion, and that time use should be considered alongside enrollment “pathways” in the sociology of higher education.

Author

• Natasha Yurk, Indiana University