Many male students feel the need to stay away from women’s studies courses, fearing angry responses, and even more importantly, fearing that their opinion will be completely discounted because of their gender…sound familiar? A recent conversation with two male students at City College revealed some of these fears.The idea of sitting in a classroom full of women and speaking about sensitive past and present women’s rights issues will cause their opinion to be, at best, listened to, and fought over by radical feminists solely because of their gender, is what keeps some students away from these courses. These were the responses I gave them.
Feminism is not man hating or overzealous woman-favoring. Feminism is the push for equality between both genders.
What people must remember to separate when being responded to rudely by someone who is strong in their ideals, is that the ideals are not the ones that are rude, it is the individual. As hard as it is, it is important not to develop a bad taste for a movement because of the actions of a few.
Sitting in a class where everything you say is plainly disregarded is frustrating for anyone.
Nobody enjoys being in an environment where their opinions are discounted and ignored. If people are interacting in a discussion oriented setting, most people would do not agree with rudely shooting anyone down. In any debate-like situation, a response hinting to an inherent misunderstanding because of gender, intelligence, or anything else similar is unacceptable. Nobody should be discouraged so much from adding to a discussion that they feel forced out of a course - nobody enjoys a toxic classroom environment.
Students fight through prejudice in the classroom all the time.
It is just as scary to be a female student in a mostly male STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) course as well. Imagine being a woman attending a technical university, or a military university, where the male to female ratio is greatly disproportionate. Situations like these happen all the time, and it doesn’t stop those brave students female attending. If expanding your education in a certain field is something you value, then take responsibility and jump those hurdles.
Most importantly, make an example out of yourself.
If a student enters a classroom with an open mind, willingness to learn, and respect for themselves and their peers, then there is nothing to fear. Rather than worrying about being viewed through the same lens as your stereotype, be your own advocate and show your peers that despite the fact, you are different.
It is extremely important that classes like these are opened and are appealing to more males. Courses fostering equality movements should be supported and shared with as wide of a variety of people as possible. Hopefully with these things in mind, we will see more students stepping out of their comfort zones, and into new classrooms.
