Jessica: Yes, in a class of 60, there were only 5 girls in the class.
V: How did that make you feel? Were you intimidated, did you feel out of place, or was it just sort of funny?
J: I actually was not surprised because Engineering is more on the masculine side and is predominantly a job for men. Based on history, men basically ruled the job force as women stayed home. I couldn't help but notice the difference in men and women when it came to the working industry when I was growing up and learning.
I wasn't intimidated at all. I actually felt excited by the thought of competing with these young men. I was part of the minority and I felt superior by that. It was a great sensation to be part of a generation that is slowly changing the workforce with a capability many women have.
V: What type of business major are you specifically and do you notice a change in the male to female ratio in your business classes compared to your engineering classes?
J: I am currently in Accounting. Male and female ratio is still veered towards men, but not at an overwhelming amount as it did in engineering. In a class of 30, I would say 1-3 are female.
V: Did you feel pressure to work harder than everyone else when you were in engineering? Did you feel that in the future you would have to work harder or do you think it would have been easier because women are in the minority.
J: I did feel immense pressure when I was still in engineering because the courses were much more challenging and slacking was not an option. In order to be successful grade wise, an engineering major student has to dedicate most of his/her time on their studies. Because I am competitive, I found myself studying almost every night and it was tiresome.
Because the majority of the students in the engineering department are male, a lot of them would try to be more hospitable towards female students because they are rare. It's great, but it can also be frustrating knowing that some male students think of you as incapable if you are relying on them. I tried my best to be a part of the majority without succumbing.
V: Has that feeling changed now that you are in business. Do you think business is more competitive or less?
J: In business, I feel much more at ease because of the fact that I am not a minority anymore. Men still try to captivate women, but that all depends on who the person is. I do not yield to such actions, and I still strive to succeed. Competitiveness still applies because we all have the same aim to graduate.
V: Do you see any of these trends changing in the future, or do you think society has pretty much solidified its male and female roles?
J: I believe that there will always be change coming our way. Our society is still dominated by males, and women are still perceived as unfit to lead. But even with that mindset, women are still climbing their way to be equally capable as men. This is what we are headed to, but of course humans will always be prejudice.
