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Author
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Topic: Classroom gender discrimination
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Tifenn
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7590
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posted 24 January 2005 06:31 PM
I have never posted here, although I have been registered for a few months and have read some of the conversation. The reason I am posting is that something happened today in class that is sooo wrong...
I am a fourth year engineering student, and as such I am definitely a minority (females make up about 10 to 12% of my classes). Today I was one of five females sitting in one of my programming class. We have a project to do individually, worth 30% of our grade. The reason I attended class today was that the prof said he would discuss the projects and assign them to us. The previous years, he assigned projects randomly, with a big discrepency (sp?) in how hard the project were. This year, he said the projects would be assigned on a first come first served basis. But then he said there would be priorities and he put a picture of the Titanic on a slide. He said: "We will use the Titanic rule: women and children first". And then he went on to say that female students had priority until tomorrow (i.e. they would be the only ones allowed to chose their project until tomorrow). Then tomorrow third year students could come by his office, and then wednesday fourth year students. The whole class's jaws dropped.
This is wrong on so many levels I am getting worked up again just thinking about it. I don't need a "priority" to chose my topic. I don't need male students to believe that female students have to get some help academically to compete against them...
I have met enough engineers telling me females have it easier than males in the real world in engineering because people treat them nicer. There is no need to fuel that debate!! I don't think it's fair for the male students to have to wait and get the "leftover" projects, and I don't think it's fair for the female students to be treated as if they need that kind of help...I am going to start writing a letter to the dean of engineering (which my male classmates have accepted to sign). I was way to flabbergasted this morning to stand up and say anything in class, I had to calm down first and write down my thoughts... Anyways, I just thought I would post here. I am amazed that such an announcement could happen at university... I am also hoping for some feedback, and if you think writing to the dean s the right action to take. Tifenn [ 24 January 2005: Message edited by: Tifenn ]
From: Canada | Registered: Nov 2004
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Mush
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3934
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posted 24 January 2005 07:18 PM
wow...my first reaction is to agree with Anchoress...as terribly wrong as this is, I could see how he could believe he is doing it for "good" reasons. I think I would start by talking to him about it. I do and say stupid things all the time, and I hope people would give me the benefit of the doubt.edited to add... and good luck with this. [ 24 January 2005: Message edited by: Mush ]
From: Mrs. Fabro's Tiny Town | Registered: Mar 2003
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violet_crash
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7248
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posted 24 January 2005 09:54 PM
I wonder if he has the thought that all minorities should "have first choice" (needing more help in the assignment). I don't suppose non-whites are also included in that "Titanic rule". You know, being *different*, apparently.It seems, by using the Titanic analogy he thought he was doing a kind thing. After all, as you know, females are gentle, loving creatures who need tender lovin'care in order to get their engineering degree. Ha! You try going telling a group of all male, all white Albertan miners how to do their job, and the amount of crap one has to put up with is phenomenal. My sister had to do this for a year, and it seems it wasn't exaclty the tea party that a female engineer's job is made out to be. The man must be oblivious. Let him know.
From: Toronto | Registered: Nov 2004
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