Women to the Right of You, Women to the Left of You:
The Value of Single Gender Classrooms, Labs, Trainings

As more young women are encouraged to pursue education and careers in the STEM fields: science, technology, engineering and math, yet another area for the raging controversy re: single gender environments emerge.  Do we do a service or disservice to females putting them in a single gender atmosphere?  Some would propose that without the opportunity to learn “real world” gender behavior we do females a disservice.

When the AAUW first published Short Changing Girls, Short Changing America there was no question that girls were treated differently in the classroom than boys.  They were often ignored, not challenged to provide in-depth answers, and generally held to lower expectations.  The controversy rears its head again in STEM collegiate laboratories across the country, school districts studying the value of single gender classrooms and trainers, like me, who offer female only workshops.  Read the article by Martha Irvine about Dr. Elizabeth Harbron’s lab at the University of William and Mary.  This lab is a perfect example of the value of single gender environments.  Though she didn’t set out to create a “female only” lab, that is what emerged and what led many female students to flourish.

As women, we ask ourselves why we often reach our highest potential in single sex classrooms, labs, or training environments.  It’s an opportunity to practice, practice, and practice.  Practice identifying our opinions, beliefs, and perspectives free from testosterone fueled bravado.  If you have never been asked your opinion, never been asked to “prove your case”, or stand your ground then chances are your confidence level is shaky.  Add a pinch of shaky plus a big cup of bluster and what do you get?  You create an atmosphere much like the asinine chaos of Sports Center.  If you have ever watched the “desk wars” on Saturday morning prior to or during a collegiate football game then you know what I’m talking about.  Who can interrupt the loudest, most frequently, and with greatest arrogance?  Is it any wonder that many women would prefer to test their confidence and skills in an environment that at least is civil?

On those occasions that my seminars have both female and male participants, this “step up and speak out” issue arises even for mature professionals.  Time after time, I have observed competent, bright, and articulate women defer to the men in the room.  If grown women will continue to yield to men in professional training workshops, then it should be no surprise you that school girls and college women struggle.  Given the opportunity, find every opportunity to create environments where women can test their wings without male wing clippers on the loose.  Every corporation that has Women’s Initiatives should be applauded.

©Copyright 2011.  Kay Fittes.  All Rights Reserved.