Evolution of the Female

[Alex Bragi]

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As women become the majority enrollees at college the worth of a college degree sinks. This isn't a sexist observation it is just true no matter how you measure it. The financial value of a BA verses a trade school degree is on the way to inverting. College courses are getting softer and less relevant and outside the very elite schools grade inflation is rampant. Look to history and culture, In the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe where the Medical profession was predominantly a feminine pursuit the wages for an MD were the rough equivalent of a factory foreman.

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I'm not sure how you come to the conclusion, Mad--that it's women's fault that tertiary education is becoming undervalued.

Here, in Australia, many women and now choosing to become tradespersons--and I use that terminology simply because many women are now choosing to become plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etc..

Yes, I agree that "The financial value of a BA verses a trade school degree is on the way to inverting." But I think it has little to do with women per se. Here, cash strapped universities compete for enrolments, and so the level of entry has dropped considerably. On the other hand, a couple of decades tightening regulations has discouraged many employers from taking on apprentices (here it's virturally impossible to sack an apprentice) and that has causes the number of tradies to simply drop quite dramatically. Supply doesn't always equal demand across the workforce and a shortage of anything will push the price up. Try trying to get plumber to come to your home, here in the land down under--and when you do manage to find one you better have your gold Amex handy.

Please understand, this isn’t a diatribe against women! It is supply and demand. If you start with an economic model where one salaried occupation supports a family then you double the required salary needed you need to double the number of workers and jobs. This would place downward pressure on salaries and in real terms salaries have dropped as the pool of the employable doubled.

Now, this is a really interesting observation. I believe in some more forward thinking countries this problem is being addressed by men and women working shorter hours for the same hourly rate. What a great idea! Why should a man have to work 40 plus hours a week to come home too tired to enjoy his family? And, why should a woman be shackled to the home and not encouraged to use her intelligent and education?

Western ‘Civilization’ may be the home of the modern feminist movement but the irony would border on poetic if feminism led to the undermining of the only culture that nurtured it.

This reminds me of one of my favourite quotes. When asked, "What do you think of Western Civilisation?" Mahatma Gandhi replied: "I think it's a good idea".