Comments | damncollegekids: Choosing a major

differenceblog in damncollegekids

Choosing a major

Jun 05, 2007 09:57

Today's post on differenceblog is about choosing a college major. Everybody seems to choose a major because they think the work will be interesting, but men seem to also consider status, whereas women seem to consider interpersonal factors more. What role does sexism or fear of sexism play in people's major choice? Comments, as always, are welcomed.

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Comments 5

engagefriction June 5 2007, 20:14:13 UTC

Interesting, although I don't seem to fit into that. I'm a woman and I'm an environmental sciences/biology major, definitely chosen for the interesting side, but I also like status, and I hate interpersonal stuff. I've veered away from potential careers where interpersonal skills were really important. I'm also heading towards more technical interests now than I did before.

So far I haven't really experienced all that much sexism in the sciences. Dudes haven't given me much crap, and I don't feel like I've been given lesser grades either. Hmmm...

differenceblog June 5 2007, 20:39:42 UTC

thank you. There are some comments on the original post from people who did expect sexism, but I didn't really see anyone saying they'd experienced it.

astrogeek01 June 6 2007, 14:14:54 UTC

In general, biology is a little better off (from what I've heard from grad students there) than some of the other sciences. A good part of that may be that the gender ratio is a lot more balanced than, say, chemistry or physics.

More comments in the original post (sorry I didn't get to yesterday)...

neverconcede May 18 2008, 08:02:48 UTC

I considered status and money. Don't absolutely love it, don't hate it, don't find it boring.

I think a lot of my personal choices hinge on proving people wrong. I do a lot of things that are stereotypically guy stuff. So..I'm a female mechanical engineering major.

I am afraid I will be discriminated against in the work force though. My main fear is that I'll make less than men coworkers for no real reason other than my lack of crotch dangle. Also, I'm afraid they'll be hesitant to hire me based on the fact that they think I'm going to go off somewhere and birth me a half dozen babies. I don't want kids and I really don't like that people assume women do want them or will have them.

neverconcede May 18 2008, 08:04:07 UTC

Also, I do feel like a bit of an outsider within the engineering students.