Two Globe and Mail features explore the persistent gender gap in Canadian postsecondary enrolment, with women now making up nearly 60% of undergraduate students. Reporter Joe Friesen highlights contributing factors such as lower academic performance among young men, behavioural challenges, and skepticism about the value of higher education. Though men still out-earn women on average, the implications of the enrolment gap extend beyond income, explains Friesen. Columnist Marsha Lederman, in a separate piece, builds on Friesen’s piece, arguing that declining male enrolment could affect civic engagement, mental health, and social cohesion. She emphasizes that postsecondary education fosters critical thinking, empathy, and community participation—benefits that go beyond economic opportunity.
