A common misconception, researchers say, is that the enormous gains women have made in education and the workplace have come at the expense of their male counterparts.

Approximately 200 participants took this and other women"s issues up yesterday at a conference titled "Bridging Gender Divides: Educational Access, Leadership & Technology."

Although women now make up more than half of the total number of university undergraduates, statistics presented at the conference showed their majority fades in post-graduate work. Women constitute 60 percent of students who attain associate degrees and maintain a significant majority as candidates for bachelors and masters degrees, but men earn more professional and doctoral degrees than women.

"Educational attainment is not a zero sum game. The success of women does not have to come at the expense of men," said Jacqueline King, director of federal policy analysis for the American Council on Education.

"The last thing we need is to alter our admissions policies to favor men," King said, calling attention to the conservative backlash against affirmative action.

"A major reason why women stay in school longer seems to be continuing economic inequality," King said. Men are able to earn a decent amount of money, at least initially, without higher education, she said. Women, on the other hand, find a college degree essential for good wages.

Student panelists addressed the issue from their standpoints, asserting that significant progress has been made, but women are still underrepresented in certain fields.

"Our work is equally important," said Lisa Jackson, a biopsychology doctoral candidate who studies estrogen and the human brain.

"I know my work has implications for over half the population," Jackson said but added her work may be considered marginally important by some of her colleagues.

As students, Jackson said she and others are "committed to supporting each other and we"re committed to not losing the gains that women before us have already gained."

Statistics noted the lack of women in science, math and engineering careers, but the conference emphasized the realm of information technology as one area where females are severely underrepresented.

University President Lee Bollinger, along with eight other research university chiefs, officially recognized the presence of gender inequalities in science and engineering earlier this year and pledged to take steps to remedy the situation.

"The vast majority of girls and women hate IT," said Jose-Marie Griffiths, the University"s chief information officer. "It"s very clear something is wrong."

Not only are women not pursuing information technology careers but those who do are abandoning them at higher rates than their male counterparts.

Part of the reason for the gender digital divide begins with young children, said Harvard University Prof. Jane Fountain.

Computer games targeted at girls are often too tame, but the games aimed at boys are not appealing to girls either.

"Girls want action, girls want excitement They don"t want to blow things up," Fountain said.

The inability to find games that appeal to girls led to the "loss of a whole generation," Fountain said.