The article "The Homecoming of American College Women: The Reversal of the College Gender Gap" by Claudia Goldin, Lawrence F. Katz, and Ilyana Kuziemko explores the historical and contemporary trends in the gender gap in college enrollment and graduation rates in the United States. The authors highlight that from 1900 to 1930, the ratio of male to female undergraduates was nearly equal, but this balance shifted in favor of males during the Great Depression and post-World War II era. However, starting in the 1960s, the number of female college enrollments began to increase rapidly, and by 1980, the gender gap had largely disappeared. This trend continued, with women surpassing men in college graduation rates by the 1990s. The authors use three longitudinal data sets from high school graduates in 1957, 1972, and 1992 to analyze the factors contributing to this reversal. They find that girls improved their academic performance, particularly in math and science, and took more advanced courses in high school. These changes were driven by increased expectations of economic returns from college, improvements in perceived labor market opportunities, and later marriage. The study also reveals that the new gender gap favoring females is found throughout the socioeconomic status distribution, with the largest advantage for children from low-income families. The article further discusses the role of changing expectations of future labor force participation, the age at first marriage, and behavioral factors in the reversal of the gender gap. It highlights how rising expectations and changing social norms encouraged young women to pursue higher education, leading to better preparation and higher graduation rates. The authors conclude that the increasing pecuniary returns to women's higher education, driven by changes in labor market opportunities and employment patterns, have played a crucial role in this reversal.The article "The Homecoming of American College Women: The Reversal of the College Gender Gap" by Claudia Goldin, Lawrence F. Katz, and Ilyana Kuziemko explores the historical and contemporary trends in the gender gap in college enrollment and graduation rates in the United States. The authors highlight that from 1900 to 1930, the ratio of male to female undergraduates was nearly equal, but this balance shifted in favor of males during the Great Depression and post-World War II era. However, starting in the 1960s, the number of female college enrollments began to increase rapidly, and by 1980, the gender gap had largely disappeared. This trend continued, with women surpassing men in college graduation rates by the 1990s. The authors use three longitudinal data sets from high school graduates in 1957, 1972, and 1992 to analyze the factors contributing to this reversal. They find that girls improved their academic performance, particularly in math and science, and took more advanced courses in high school. These changes were driven by increased expectations of economic returns from college, improvements in perceived labor market opportunities, and later marriage. The study also reveals that the new gender gap favoring females is found throughout the socioeconomic status distribution, with the largest advantage for children from low-income families. The article further discusses the role of changing expectations of future labor force participation, the age at first marriage, and behavioral factors in the reversal of the gender gap. It highlights how rising expectations and changing social norms encouraged young women to pursue higher education, leading to better preparation and higher graduation rates. The authors conclude that the increasing pecuniary returns to women's higher education, driven by changes in labor market opportunities and employment patterns, have played a crucial role in this reversal.