Women and education in Ireland: Factors linked to the cessation of formal education in adolescence and re-entry into formal education in midlife

Abstract

A higher education puts a woman in control of herself and that lasts a lifetime. According to DeMott (1990), the resource most widely used as a tool for upward mobility is education. However, for many women, the opportunity to pursue a second or third level education does not present itself at age appropriate times. There are many issues related to the educational choices women make in late adolescence and throughout their lifespan. This paper endeavours to investigate and make proposals based on findings which could contribute to the understanding of the psychosocial backdrop to the choices women make regarding education both in late adolescence and in midlife. This paper will report demographic information, women’s reasons for discontinuing formal education and women’s reasons for returning to education. It will also explore women’s perceptions of personal goals in their early twenties. Correlations of independent variables will also be reported to identify links between socioeconomic factors and the pursuit of educational goals.