“Diversity”
Would you say that it was a shame that having even two female students in your Informatics class was a high number, and the university ought to do something about that, promoting diversity? I heard that in a meeting this morning. Why does promoting that kind of diversity have any value? Does a uniquely feminine view of Unix need to be taught? Or, to get to what is no doubt the real, but still mysterious, motivation: Why should the professor like seeing people of both sexes in his classes?
What if I had 95% female students in all my classes? It would feel odd at first– not bad, but odd– but I expect I’d get used to it pretty quickly, just as professors teaching at single-sex colleges do. Certainly I have no trouble getting used to classes that are almost all male, or foreign, or Asian.
April 7th, 2007 at 1:01 am
I often discuss this concept with my boyfriend, who is in a male-dominated major preparing for a male-dominated career. I find it odd that people, especially males, tend not to consider the fact that women are not typically raised hearing that they should pursue economics or finance, for example. While parents may groom their sons for corporate America, they are likely recommending education or nursing for their daughters. It’s natural, especially for the baby-boomer parents who grew up exclusively with men being bosses and cute little women being their secretaries.
And I think you’re missing the point - a uniquely feminine view of Unix doesn’t need to be taught so much as it needs to be heard. As you’d appreciate the perspectives of diverse cultures and backgrounds, women may add to your discussions in fresh ways as well.