Talulah Andrews (286)
As I walked into my first AP Physics 2 class of the year, I noticed that among a sea of 31 students, I was just one of three women. I started to feel an uneasy awkwardness that I might feel alone in such a rigorous class all year, until I realized that my teacher had placed the three of us at the same table. Since then, we women have been able to collaborate, uplift each other, and thrive in an environment that may otherwise feel silencing or suppressing. Here at Central, and in high school in general, a gender gap can be particularly observed within art and STEM classes. If you are feeling gender disparity in one of your classes, you are not alone.
Jia-Hua Gong (286) “noticed that there’s a general lack of women in STEM classes” as she shared her experience as a woman in her impressive list of science classes over the years. This year, Gong is one of six women in her AP Computer Science class and one of five in her AP Physics C class. She, too, shared her appreciation for her AP Physics C teacher, Mr. Martin, explaining how it helped that he “put all the girls at one table instead of splitting us up,” giving her and the other women in the class an opportunity to “become closer to support each other.”
On the other hand, Central’s art department seems to be majority female. Daniel Powell (286) is taking Costume Design this year, where he is just one of five men in his class. Powell said that being one of the only men in his class can feel awkward at times, but really “motivates [him] more” in his work. Similarly, Senior Dante Gagliardi shared his experience being one of eight men in his Sculpture class this year, where he says he has gotten even “closer with [his] friends that are boys” as they bolster each other and work together on their clay creations.
If you are experiencing a gender gap in one of your classes, whether it’s in a STEM class, an art class, or a different class entirely, know there are many others going through the same thing! So many resources are available to you here at Central, such as teachers or counselors, so do not let gender disparity stop you from pursuing your passions!
