For some majors, there comes an assumed stereotype. For example, people expect that communication majors love to talk, agriculture majors must want to become farmers and environmental science majors are all hippies.
Some majors, though, have stereotypes based on gender, such as fashion design and merchandising or building science. When majors come with gendered expectations, it can easily make some students feel ill at ease.
Lana Watson, sophomore in professional flight, a major Auburn University enrollment statistics listed as 97 percent male in 2013, said she felt extra pressure to succeed when she began in the program because of the gender gap.
“At first, it affected me because I felt kind of inferior, especially when I first started flying,” Watson said. “My flight instructor is a guy, and so that kind of intimidated me a little bit, just because I feel like if I mess up I already have me being a female going against me, but just like with anything else, you get used to it the more you do it and so now I feel comfortable.”
Hanna Fowler, junior in aviation management, a major Auburn University enrollment statistics listed as 10 percent female in 2013, said she felt more determined to succeed.
“It does give you more determination because there aren’t as many women in my field,” Fowler said. “It’s not the fact that there are more men, like it’s not the fact that it’s majority men, but it’s just that there aren’t a lot of women in general. It’s kind of a determination to blaze the trail thing. If I can do it and get through then I can help other girls to also do the same thing.”
Fowler also said being one of the only women in the program has allowed her to form close friendships within the program.
“It is fun to be a girl in a male-dominated industry because you get so close with the other girls in your industry,” Fowler said. “A lot of girls find that through a sorority or something like that, sisterhood and close friends and things like that. I feel like for girls in aviation, it’s just the fact that we have each other. It makes us a lot closer.”
Matthew Schopp, a senior in human development and family studies, says that the female to male ratio in his classes is usually 20 to 1.
“It actually gives me a lot of encouragement because I see such a need for males in the field,” Schopp said. “Having a strong male role model in your life can make a big difference with boys and girls alike. It’s a great thing having so many people in this field.”
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