Tables 1 and 2 show a great disparity between men and women and but also show that the disparity is shrinking.

Currently in 2004 for every student pilot (male or female) there are almost 2 ATPs. For women, on the other hand, in 2004 for every female student pilot there is only 1/2 ATP. So that is the disparity.

Looking at table 2 from 1995 to 2004 you see that the ratio of female ATPs to female students is improving. This shows the disparity is shrinking.

Looking at students makes sense because everyone can become a student. There is no discrimination there. Then you would expect the ratio of female students to all students to be the same as the ratio of female ATPs to all ATPs if there were no discrimination.

However there are a number of other factors that skew the results. Many women with good careers go into aviation to become private pilots only. Most of my buddies talk their wives or girlfriends into at least taking a few lessons, etc. But aspiring to become a commercial pilot is largely a male thing. You really need to exclude all those students that aren't aspiring to become commercial pilots. Maybe we can look at the enrolment figures at aviation universities instead?

And yes - as the previous poster pointed out the disparity may be a result of prior discrimination, not current. It takes a long time to go from student to ATP.