Going back to school is different for women than it is for men. Women face more barriers, such as child care, and financial and time constraints. However, distance learning programs and a sense of self-fulfillment are attracting more and more women to get involved in continuing education. While there are still barriers to be lifted, the outlook for women in continuing education is getting stronger through participation in distance learning.

According to the American Association of University Women's Educational Foundation, more and more women are reaping the benefits of distance learning through online programs. These programs better fit the busy schedules of mothers who work and rear children. The AAUW Educational Foundation reports that women appreciate the flexibility that distance learning gives them to keep up with their family duties, while completing coursework as time becomes available for them.

Cutting costs and saving time were other reasons for why women are flocking to distance education. Distance education allows women to achieve the personal fulfillment and self-confidence that education brings to their lives. Women were also reported to feel less uncomfortable learning on their own than in a classroom with classmates of mixed ages.

However, administrators recognize that the financial aid programs for part-time students will need to improve if more women are to get involved in continuing education. Because of money and time restraints, many women cannot afford to attend classes full-time. The AAUW also encourages schools and programs to get more women involved at the faculty level, as well as in the planning of online programs. Policymakers are also called upon to be more sensitive to the limitations working mothers face when it comes to continuing their education.

Many women interested in continuing their education are reported to be concerned with test anxiety, equity and accessibility, and employer incentive. They are also concerned with the degree of support they will receive from their families and current employers. Women in distance learning want to feel like students as opposed to consumers, according to the AAUW.

Some women have found the course load of online classes quite difficult, and others have struggled while using the technology that distance learning requires. Since many women enroll in distance learning programs to earn a degree over time, instead of just taking a few classes for professional reasons, these problems must be addressed.

By addressing these issues, education will gain a greater number of students who take their learning seriously, and are likely to work diligently. The AAUW reports that women emphasize self-fulfillment as an attraction of continuing education more than do men. Students who feel fulfilled by their studies are likely to perform better than those who are not. With better-planned programs, widely available information on program offerings, increased flexibility and stronger financial aid packages, more women will be able to continue their education and contribute further to society.