Quote:
Originally posted by Allie_XO:
...There are people who are too lazy to give any effort to their work, so they do what is easiest for them. If you look at the way young women are treated in math and science courses, you wouldn't be surprised that most young women choose a career in something NOT science or math related...
|
Which is why I'm glad I have my Sisters! They are always there whenever the going gets tough...they are always,
always understanding. I didn't realize how helpful it would be to have a bond with women who were going through the same experiences I am...of course, not all of them are negative.
It burns me whenever I hear of young women being treated like brainless idiots -
especially if they
are blessed with physical beauty as well as brains, and just don't happen to society's schema of the female "nerdy-genious." Why can't a woman be beautiful and smart?
This is what upsets me the most - that a young lady starts out in a major that she wants to pursue, but then is discouraged from it because of social pressure. I don't recall where I read the stats: there was a survey study done which highlighted the fact that surprisingly, most of this pressure comes from home (parents), and then from one's social group(s).
It's heartbreaking: of the many intelligent women that started out in my chemical engineering freshman class, very few stayed with the program. That's the general trend for all engineering programs, and it's true for men as well as women. It seems that women tend to drop out faster and in higher rates, though, because there's usually no system of support.
Quote:
Originally posted by Allie_XO:
...I am planning on going into a male dominated field (Law) and I have been discouraged by my own family, several teachers at my high school, my guidence couselor, and my friends. It is hard to make a decision like this and I can understand how some young ladies would be afraid to go against everything they have been exposed to culturally.
|
It has to be tough, Allie, making a decision like that. I've been there - it's my dad who encouraged me to pursue chemical engineering, and it's my dad who's the biggest doubter when it comes to my abilities as an engineer.
(It doesn't help that that's his profession, too).
Which is why I'm glad I have my Sisters! They are always there whenever the going gets tough...they are always,
always understanding. I didn't realize how helpful it would be to have a bond with women who were going through the same experiences I am...of course, not all of them are negative.
It burns me whenever I hear of young women being treated like brainless idiots -
especially if they
are blessed with physical beauty as well as brains, and just don't happen to society's schema of the female "nerdy-genious."
This is what upsets me the most - that a young lady starts out in a major that she wants to pursue, but then is discouraged from it because of social pressure. I don't recall where I read the stats: there was a survey study done which highlighted the fact that surprisingly, most of this pressure comes from home (parents), and then from one's social group(s).
It's heartbreaking: of the many intelligent women that started out in my chemical engineering freshman class, very few stayed with the program. That's the general trend for all engineering programs, and it's true for men as well as women. It seems that women tend to drop out faster and in higher rates, though, because there's usually no system of support.
Quote:
Originally posted by Allie_XO:
...I am planning on going into a male dominated field (Law) and I have been discouraged by my own family, several teachers at my high school, my guidence couselor, and my friends. It is hard to make a decision like this and I can understand how some young ladies would be afraid to go against everything they have been exposed to culturally.
|
It has to be tough, Allie, making a decision like that. I've been there - it's my dad who encouraged me to pursue chemical engineering, and it's my dad who's the biggest doubter when it comes to my abilities as an engineer.
(It doesn't help that that's his profession, too).
I don't think there's any such thing as an easy major. All majors require time, dedication, talent, and intelligence. I would say, though, that there's more flexibility of time for liberal arts majors than for engineering or science majors. And I think that's where it can be an advantage to be a liberal arts major - there's more of an opportunity to do more with your time, rather than be resigned to limiting your extra-curricular experiences.
Most of the leaders on my campus are greek - and most of them are in majors that allow them great flexibility of time (usually business). And none of those are majors such as drama, or dance, or other liberal arts majors that require a lot of sustained time dedication. There are only a couple of leaders I can think of who are in time-limiting majors - and usually, their involvement is limited to that one leadership position, besides their affiliation and their major.
------------------
@-->---
Pure as Silver, and True Blue!
Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies
[This message has been edited by equeen (edited March 02, 2001).]
[This message has been edited by equeen (edited March 02, 2001).]