Gender Gap: Young Women Outpacing Men in Northern Ireland

By Safia Minion

The Financial Times (Burn-Murdoch, 2024) recently reported that in the UK and other developed countries, ‘‘young women are leaving young men behind’. It explains how girls have been soaring above men in education for decades, but recently it’s been discovered that this extends to almost all areas of life. ‘Young women are now not only more likely than men to be caring for family members, but also to be in work or full-time education’. Young women in the UK are now earning more than young men and more likely have surpassed men in employment by three percentage points. It explains that this is not just a case of women advancing, but also men moving backwards.

How relevant is this to Northern Ireland?

 The disparity is clear: in 2021, 53% of female school leavers in Northern Ireland went on to attend university, compared to just 39.8% of their male counterparts (Meredith, 2022). This trend is mirrored at Queen’s University, where women make up 58% of the student population, while men account for only 42% (HESA, 2024). The job market reflects a similar shift, over the past decade, the percentage of women in full-time employment in Northern Ireland has risen by 2.1 points, while for men it has fallen by 3 points (NISRA, 2022).

The Financial Times article (Burn-Murdoch, 2024) reveals that 80% of the unemployed men studied reported long term mental health issues and a general detachment from society. Considering Northern Ireland’s employment rate lags 11% behind the rest of the UK, this could already be a significant issue in the region (Campbell and Niell 2023).

Growing outcomes

The Financial Times article suggests that this group of disengaged men is more likely to support right-wing populist movements, indicating that, without a strong stake in society, they may also be more prone to violent unrest. This summer, cities across the UK, particularly Belfast, were swept by violence with a right-wing agenda (Barry 2024), raising the question of whether there’s a direct connection between this growing disillusionment and the unrest.

Additionally, the Financial Times article highlights the widening gender gap, which has made it increasingly difficult for young men and women to find common ground. Northern Ireland recently labelled the “most dangerous place in Europe for women,” has witnessed the tragic murder of four women by men in just six weeks (Barnes 2021). This raises the question: could this surge in violence against women be linked to the growing number of men who are disengaging from society? The intersection of gender-based violence and societal alienation among men points to deeper structural issues, potentially exacerbated by economic and social marginalisation. The rise in right-wing populism, combined with threats to traditional masculinity, may fuel both public unrest and private violence.

The growing disengagement of young men highlighted by the Financial Times is deeply concerning, especially given the clear correlation between poor mental health and an increased risk of violence. If this issue continues to be ignored, we risk seeing further escalation in unrest and societal instability. Addressing this problem must become a priority, as it has far-reaching implications not only for public safety but for the overall cohesion of society. It’s essential that this topic is brought to the forefront of policy discussions and interventions are implemented to prevent further marginalization of young men before these challenges deepen.

Sources:

Barnes, Ciaran. 2021. “Northern Ireland Is Most Dangerous Place in Europe for Women.” BelfastTelegraph.co.uk, November 28, 2021, sec. Sunday Life. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/northern-ireland-is-most-dangerous-place-in-europe-for-women/41095214.html.

Barry, John. 2024. “At the Front Line of Belfast’s Week of Violence.” New Lines Magazine. August 14, 2024. https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/at-the-front-line-of-belfasts-week-of-violence/.

Burn-Murdoch, John. 2024. “Financial Times.” @FinancialTimes. September 2024. https://www.ft.com/content/17606f25-1d03-4f37-b7f4-f39989af9bde.

Campbell, John, and Sara Niell. 2023. “Employment Rate in Northern Ireland Reaches Record High.” BBC News, December 12, 2023. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-67690096.

HESA. 2024. “Who’s Studying in HE?: Student Numbers | HESA.” Hesa.ac.uk. 2024. https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/students/whos-in-he/numbers.

Meredith, Robbie. 2022. “Record Numbers of NI School Leavers Enter University.” BBC News, May 27, 2022, sec. Northern Ireland. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-61598341.

NISRA. 2022. “Women in Northern Ireland 2020/21.” Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency .