Gender Dynamics in Industrial Arts Education: A Global Synthesis and Philippine Case Analysis

Despite narrowing educational gender gaps globally, Industrial Arts and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) remain stubbornly male-dominated. This integrative review investigates this persistent disparity by synthesizing global macro-data across five regions alongside a targeted micro-analysis of the Philippine educational system. Findings reveal a profound global paradox: while mechanisms of exclusion vary, from economic constraints in Sub-Saharan Africa to cultural barriers in the Gulf States and internalized tracking in Europe, the marginalization of women in technical fields is universally consistent. The Philippines serves as a critical microcosm. Despite robust institutional parity frameworks and high female certification rates, deep occupational segregation persists. Internalized gender schemas strongly drive self-selection into stereotyped pathways, effectively overriding formal access policies.