3 of my Experiences with Academic Sexism

This post is a little different than usual, but it's something that I've been thinking about recently. This summer, I decided to leave my job and return to school. I returned to my university of graduation to take a couple classes. In doing so, I am often reminded of my experiences there. In truth, the vast majority of my experiences at college were very positive. I enjoyed my time at the university and have even donated to the alumni funds since graduation. I remain active with my friends and organization from college.

I say these things in assurance that I do not intend to discredit my university nor imply that they didn't do enough to guard from academic sexism or misogyny. Instead, I want to bring a small light on how a predominately liberal campus can still play host to some outdated thoughts, particularly in male dominated field (such as mine, engineering).

I understand that many, many people have significantly more impactful experiences than I do and I do not share my own in comparison to theirs. I share my own to show 3 defining times in my university experience that I was made to think that my professors expected less of me than of my male counterparts.

Without further ado, here are 3 of my experiences with academic sexism.

1. "Girls aren't interested in this type of thing" 

My Professor's Idea of a Girl in Engineering

One of the most blatant examples of sexism that I experienced in the engineering department was the announcement by one of my professors to the lecture class that "Girls aren't interested in this type of thing." 

This particular lecture course was exceptionally dry. The professor still used overhead projections with prefilled sheets. The whole lecture involved him putting the sheet up, reading directly from it, and repeating. The students would write everything down while he spoke and work on something else until the next sheet went up. Sometimes, this "something else" was facebook. 

I sat directly next to the only other girl in the class and we were both doddling on our phones, waiting for the next topic to start. Albeit rude, we were definitely not the only ones. All of a sudden, the professor started to giggle and announce to the class full of students (who were also looking at their phones) that it was okay that me and the girl adjacent weren't paying attention, because "girls aren't interested in this type of thing." He did not say it to insult us. He said it as a fact.

Rather than noticing that he had lost the attention and interest of everyone there, he noted that the girls weren't paying attention. So by no fault of his own *sarcasm*, it was okay that we weren't fully engaged. Instead of understanding that there may be some adjustments to his teaching style that were needed, he chocked up the lack of motivation to gender and the way of the world. It wasn't insulting to him (which I would have actually been more okay with) that the girls weren't paying attention, simply because  we were girls.

This was the last lecture course in a series of circuit courses, taken by seniors in the electrical engineering department. I guarantee, anyone that lacked interest or ability in the field, male or female, had left by then. Both the girl next to me and I got A's in that course.

2. "A Woman's Touch"

I was in an engineering lab, my good friend (male) was having some trouble using a piece of equipment (potentiometer). A potentiometer is a variable resistor; the value can be adjusted via a small dial where small adjustments can lead to large changes in resistance. My friend was having a tough time getting the resistance to a specific value while demonstrating to the professor his circuit. After a few failed attempts, I offered to help him, having just demonstrated my own to the professor. I got it to the correct value on the first try. The professor looked at us with praise, saying "Look's like it just needed a woman's touch." My friend and I looked at each other with discomfort.

Rather than acknowledging that I was more careful with my technique or that I came a bit more prepared by practicing making the correct adjustments before the class, my effort was dismissed as a trait of my gender. My work meant less, because apparently my ability was inherent to my private parts.

3. "Good Job."

"Good Job." It doesn't seem like that can be taken very badly, right? It's a simple compliment, for goodness sake. Unfortunately, a glowing remark at a simple task can end up having much more negative effect. Let me paint a picture.

Example of an Ohmmeter measuring resistance

I was a senior sitting in an electrical engineering lab course with my good friend and male lab partner. This was the last course in my Analog Electronic Circuits and Design series and by this point, we were moving like clockwork in the building and testing of circuit projects. We were preparing to start a new lab when my partner alerted me that he needed to use the restroom. He left and I began to use an ohmmeter to measure the resistance of my resistors. At this point, my professor came up to my station and stared at my doing so for about a minute. I eventually asked if everything was alright, noting the odd behavior from the man who typically just sat at his desk until someone went up to him with a question. He looked at me, smiled, and asked, "What are you doing?" I looked blankly at him for a moment, thinking that my actions were pretty obvious. "Measuring resistance of my resistors," I responded. The professor beamed down at me and said, "Wow, that's fantastic, you're doing such a good job." Then he walked away.

What was wrong with this, you might ask. This seems innocent and kind. If you're someone who hasn't had to work with circuit, let me paint a couple of other scenarios. What if a chef was complimented for being able to boil water? A mechanic for being able to check the mileage of a car? A chemist for being able to use a scale? More importantly, what if these compliments weren't from people who didn't know how to do these things, but rather someone superior.

What's wrong with these? These compliments belittle the significant work and potential talent of the people to which they are given. If your boss wholehearted complimented you for being able to turn your computer on, wouldn't that feel strange? Doesn't your boss know that you can do a hell of a lot more than turn on a computer? Why doesn't your boss ever bother to say something like that to anyone else? Are you never going to be promoted because your boss might think that you are barely competent enough to turn on a computer?

This type of praise is not helpful. It's insulting.