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A: FROM MENTOR DAVINIA CHISM
IN TX
Corinne,
I obtained my BS in Mathematics in 1995. Then later went to
receive a MBA
in Engineering Management in 1999 and a MS in Engineering
in 2002. My
perception has actually changed over the years. I think that
is because
our culture is slowly changing. While every instructor is
always unique
and may have their own opinion, I have found the environment
to be more
accepting now that when I received my BS.
My classes have always been male dominated. My senior level
undergraduate
math courses were entirely male. I would be lucky to have
one other female
in the class. By 2002, my senior level graduate math and engineering
classes had up to 20-30% women. I think there is a difference
in graduate
level courses because instructors assume women are more serious
at that
level. In my undergraduate classes, I felt unique and at times
felt
certain instructors did not take me as seriously. But I knew
the final say
would always be in my work - I could gain or lose respect
that way. I
never felt intimidated - if anything I felt proud because
of the classes I
was in. However, I did feel at times that I was in the classes
for a
different reason than my male counterparts. We did not always
appreciate
the same aspects. But I never had any classmates make fun
of me or
discourage me. They were always impressed that I was there.
By no means did I feel discouraged. At times I was even encouraged
strictly because I was female. I think our culture is moving
more and more
towards one that accepts students on the basis of their outputs
and not
their gender. You should have a very bright future in front
of you.
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A: FROM MENTOR RACHEL HUTTER IN
FL
The ratio of men to women in engineering in college is over
5 to 1. You
will find some differences from your male peers. While they
might be
just a number in a large school, your instructors will know
you by name
as will most of the people in your classes. Some of your instructors
may have stereotypes about men being stronger in math and science
than
women. If so, make sure that you discuss the issues if you feel
comfortable doing so. If not, report them to the Dean of the
School.
Cultures of different campuses can differ drastically. You deserve
to
be treated respectfully and fairly. If you are not, report it
or go to
a different school. Female engineering students are in high
demand.
You can and should find a culture that will support your math
and
science interests. I strongly recommend joining the Society
of Women
Engineers so that you build a network and support structure.
On the
positive side, you most certainly will not be lacking for dates!
Good
luck.
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A: FROM MENTOR JOAN LUSK IN
RI
When I was in college the demographic was about 80% male, 20%
female overall, and even more skewed in the sciences - I recall
about 10% female chemistry majors. We just saw that as how the
world was and didn't dwell on it. Things have changed a lot
- colleges in general now have more female than male students,
and the proportions in chemistry and biology are about 50:50.
Physics and Engineering are still more majority male.
One advantage to studying natural science is that you are
not as likely to be put down for having a female approach
to the subject. Your approach may be better or worse than
the next guy's, but the nature of the subjects makes it hard
to conceive of approaches as masculine or feminine. It's very
unlikely that today's professors would be so foolish as to
be openly hostile to women as students. It's not even all
that often that male classmates assume that women can't do
science - there are just too many counterexamples.
As you may infer, I don't subscribe to the notion that men
and women would create different sciences. They may behave
rather differently to co-workers. They may use different metaphors
- notably the concept of "thrust areas" versus areas
of science that are to be well-funded and nurtured, or sports
metaphors versus household metaphors. But mathematical equations,
elementary particles, molecules, lower life forms, plate tectonics
and cosmology are going to be the same no matter who is studying
them. If some higher life forms (dogs, other people) seem
to behave differently toward men and women, we are left to
tease out whether they are responding to gender per se or
to differences in behavior.
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A: FROM MENTOR VICTORIA PALMER
IN TX
Corinne,
I graduated from Texas A&M with an Aerospace Engineering
degree in 1988. At that time, all the engineering fields were
very male-dominated, but Aerospace seemed to be the worse.
There were 6 females in my graduating class and about 80 males.
When I started at A&M as a freshman, the numbers were
not this drastic, but by my sophomore year, it was pretty
obvious that I would be taking classes with mostly males.
I was always good at math and really liked physics, so I knew
this degree was the right one for me, but I also knew there
would be challenges. I did not have a single female professor
or teacher assistant for any of my engineering classes. Female
role models just weren't there. Many of my professors and
some of the male students didn't seem to take me seriously.
This just made me work harder and prove to them that I was
as good, if not better, than my male peers. What I found to
be the hardest obstacle was finding good study partners. Once
you prove yourself as a hard worker and one committed to making
good grades, you might find, as I did, that some of your study
partners just want you to do their work for them. I think
some males think you will be a push over because you are female.
It took some looking for me, but I found a good group of guys
to study with that were as committed as I was and didn't care
that I was a female. One thing that really worked in my favor
through this all was that I did learn to work with males,
which was exactly what I had to do when I joined the work
force. No matter what you decide to do, you might encounter
some kind of bias for some reason or another. Take it as a
challenge and run with it!
Thanks,
Tori Palmer
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A: FROM MENTOR NORRIE ROBBINS
IN CA
What a cool question-thanks for bringing back the memories.
I got my BS in Geology from Ohio State in 1964. I found my
professors to be nurturing-now I understand things that were
unclear before: professors of undergraduates are mostly very
caring people; they get paid because of the number of students
they attract, so it is in their interest to nurture their
students; and finally, they love teaching and they love seeing
that their students are learning. Male-dominated defines geology.
On the other hand, I was a young woman and I thought it was
pretty cool to be completely surrounded by young males. The
downside is that they then grew up to become adult males,
who are less cute in the daily work world.
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A: FROM MENTOR MINI VARUGHESE
in MD
I majored in biochemistry. Science is not male dominated anymore.
The
classes are 50/50. Graduate school was also 50/50. The faculty
was
100 % male though. I was known as one of the people or the
person who blew
the curve. I did not meet any overt sexism in undergrad. Graduate
school
was a different experience. I did my graduate work at the
same school in the
same program as my undergrad. Up close interaction allowed
me to see
the sexism. Nothing blatant, like "go make babies not
science" but instead
in the general treatment of women vs men.
1. One advisor during journal club would nail the women to
the wall
during their presentations while the guys got off easy. One
other
graduate student and I confronted him about it.
2. Another advisor gave the easy projects to the guys in his
group and
the harder projects to the women.
3. A third advisor had nothing but white people in his lab.
This was in
a small graduate program with more than 50 % Asians.
4. Another advisor managed to run off every single woman that
rotated
through his lab and only the guys were willing to stay and
put up with
the abuse. One guy ended up getting an MRI for persistent
fevers due to
the stress.
5. But it can work in your favor too. At least two female
graduate
students in other departments were sleeping with their bosses
and got
all the fellowships. Blatantly unethical, but the male dominated
system let
the professors get away with it. And yes, it is professors
fault as he
is the one with the power.
Thank you,
Mini Varughese, Ph.D.
Technical Representative
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