An Analysis of Degree Results in Geography by Gender

Chi‐square analysis is used to test for differences in the degree results of male and female geography graduates from 42 UK universities between 1973 and 1993. The combined results of these universities (i.e. departments at subject‐specific level) show a persistent and striking overrepresentation of males with thirds and pass degrees together with a less obvious, but statistically significant, overrepresentation of males achieving firsts. Corresponding analyses for individual departments emphasise the need for caution in deriving generalisations from aggregate data. A significant difference (at the 99% level) in the cumulative annual degree results of males and females is found in 10 of the 42 departments. The sources of these differences vary and it is suggested that a distinction is drawn between general factors responsible for the pervasive overrepresentation of males in the third/pass categories and department‐specific factors responsible for gender differences in other degree classes, especially firsts.