Laurel Hamersma

Dr. Parker
English 113- Feminisms
6 October 2018
Critical summary #3
In “No Girls Allowed: Women in Male-Dominated Majors Experience Increased
Gender Harassment and Bias,” Dresden explains how gender harassment and bias is prevalent in
not only the workplace for women in leadership positions and male-dominated fields but women
in college pursuing male-dominated majors. Specifically, Dresden articulates that the harassment
that occurs due to male dominance could hurt a woman's chances in her major of choice as well
as her career later in life. As the author herself puts it, “If female students in male-dominated ma-
jors are experiencing a higher prevalence of gender harassment, these experiences will likely in-
fluence how they perceive and function in their major and future workforce” (Dresden). Dres-
den’s research shows that gender harassment does, in fact, occur within majors dominated by
males, and this could have devastating impacts on young women trying to receive an education
in a major they are passionate about. Although some people believe this harassment does not
take place in male-dominated majors, Dresden’s findings insist that this harassment is a prevalent
issue. In sum then, her view is that harassment and gender bias in male-dominated majors is oc-
curring in society today and affects women in positions of power as well as in a college setting.
I agree with Dresden, I believe that gender harassment in male-dominated majors is an issue
that should be talked about and prevented. As a woman pursuing a major in science, I would per-
sonally feel extremely uncomfortable and degraded if I experienced harassment while attempting
to receive an education in a field I am passionate about. From this reading, I learned that gender
harassment and bias is still occurring frequently today and can be seen happening to women in
school as well as the workforce after school. The idea that some men feel the need to assert dom-
inance in their field by harassing and showing bias towards the women working alongside them
is extremely upsetting. This makes me realize that feminism must emphasize political equality in
order to fight for equal representation of women and men in the workplace. This applies to ma-
jors as well, as young girls in college attempt to learn in a hostile and bias environment that will
only hinder them from achieving what they are interested in.
I can definitely see this inequality playing out in education and careers now and in my future.
With more women pursuing careers in traditionally male-dominated fields, they will most likely
encounter harassment or bias of some type. When men who are used to being the most successful
in their field or aren’t used to working alongside women start to see their world become more di-
versified, I would assume they may feel threatened or intimidated by it. This does not mean that
they have the right to harass others, but unfortunately, I can see how that may occur. The harass-
ment of women has also been seen in many other places in society today such as pop culture and
politics. There are new instances coming into the light every day of actresses who have been ver-
bally or sexually abused by male co-stars or producers. New cases of gender harassment come
out every day, and I would assume this occurs for partly the same reason as harassment in the
workplace and school, where men feel threatened by women who are as or more successful than
them in their career. Overall, gender harassment is extremely common among many different
settings and can be seen immensely in modern society.
Works Cited
Dresden, Brooke E., et al. “No Girls Allowed: Women in Male-Dominated Majors
Experience Increased Gender Harassment and Bias.” Psychological Reports,
vol. 121, no.3, Nov. 2017, pp 459–474., doi:10.1177/0033294117730357.