Commenting on a study by the Ministry of Manpower and NUS which found that the gap between the median pay of men and women in Singapore has narrowed, SMU Dean of Students and Professor of Sociology (Practice) Paulin Straughan said that besides the narrowing of the gender pay gap, the study showed that women today have similar educational levels as men. This also means that women in Singapore have the means to strive towards upward mobility and similar opportunities as their male counterparts. However, SMU’s Lee Kong Chian Distinguished Fellow Dr Noeleen Heyzer said the report's findings suggest there is a persistent gender discrimination which can be attributed to occupational and industry segregation, and this has significant implications for the younger generation as it will compound over an individual's career.