Many scholars agree that women are given less attention andencouragement in classrooms than males, a condition called chillyclimate. According to one study conducted by Penn State, women areput at a distinct educational disadvantage.
"I think there may be a chilly climate (at The University ofMemphis) in classrooms studying subjects with low representation ofwomen," said Diane Shinberg, U of M assistant sociology professorwho teaches Sociology of Gender. "There has been a significantamount of research, some of which is highly contested, about whoteachers call on and who teachers allow to participate in classdiscussions."
Teachers tend to call on males more frequently and ask themchallenging, open-ended questions, while females are asked simplefactual questions, according to the Penn State study.
A strong opinion presented by a woman in a classroom environmentis also more likely to be considered emotional, whereas, a malestudent's opinion is viewed by faculty and classmates asintellectual.
"People use different vocabulary to describe similar behavior,such as 'angry man' and 'bitchy woman,'" the study said. "Women'sachievements are also attributed to factors other than theirintellectual capabilities, such as affirmative action, good luck or'sleeping their way to the top.'"
Other documented factors conducive to the "chilly climate" feltby some women include making less eye contact with women, givingwomen less criticism or praise and engaging in more informalconversation with men than women.
"Anecdotally, I'm sure this goes on here on campus," Shinbergsaid. "But I don't think it is the case systematically."
Other studies contest the chilly climate theory by pointing outthat females tend to get higher grades in school, score better onstandardized tests and enter college more frequently thanmales.
"The smartest students in my classes tend to be females," saidKeyana Sawyer, a senior international business major. "In amajority of my classes, I don't feel discouraged to speak up."
But some students feel the chilly climate study is applicable totheir classes.
"I'm in a field where a lot of my peers are girls. But even thenwhen I give my opinion, people are not very nice about it," saidAalam Sharififard, a junior public relations major. "They make mefeel stupid, so I'm less likely to speak up now."
That is one of the many harmful results of the chilly climatesin classrooms, according to the study. Chilly climate also causeswomen to speak hesitantly and apologetically and avoid pursuingcareers in male-dominated fields.
"Even women who get degrees in engineering do not tend topractice in the field," Shinberg said. "I think we should encouragea more diverse learning environment for both males andfemales."
