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gender imbalance in a class

Anyone else in the situation of where you are the only male/female in a class?

In my Ict class i am the only girl amongst 11 pupils, and in addition to that one of my ict teachers is a guy,

So when it comes to his class i am exposed with guys who use sexual innuedo and it is annoying,
today i just sat colouring in a picture because I basically had all the notes done, thus all the guys who sit there doing nothing were annoying me and saying that I wasn't doing the work.

I pointed out my past marks for ict prove that wherever method i employ clear works thus I don't need to comform to the teaching methods.

Then this arrogant computer points out that whilst i can do theory, he would "outstrip me in the practical/ computer task" whilst this does not hold any offence really.

The teacher took it out of context even though he understood the context and said that "the guy shouldn't strip me" which quite obvisiously is laden with sexual innuedo and got some laughs. I was appalled although i failed to speak out. Is that not totally inappropriate for a teacher to say?

Has anyone been in this situation? Am I right to boycott his class (contemplating this)? I don't want to speak to the teacher because he won't avoid making these comments.

I surely thought that a teacher should be sensitive towards his class thus would not make these comments.

Reply 1

*Tears and Butterflies*

2

Meh wouldn't bother me. My male politics teacher used sexual innuendo's all the time.. but there was lots of girls in the class.

I'm in a Politics class this year (different teacher at different college) with 6 guys and just lil old me. I love it. Because I started at the college as a new second year everyone already new everyone but I find guy's are far more welcoming than girls. don't try to analyse you or anything and aren't bitchy. I don't feel like a newbie at all. :biggrin:

Reply 2

Glutamic Acid

17

All my classes are somewhat imbalanced. Only 3 girls out of about 21 in my physics class, none from about 15 in computing and 5 from 15 in further maths.

Reply 3

Liquid Skin

1

Hehe i remember when i was doing English Lit at college - there was only me and one other guy in a class of 30 odd women. Didn't bother me none. I had a couple friends in the class anyway and our English teacher complied with the universal rule of "all english teachers are nuts" so it was all good! :biggrin:

I wouldnt take what he said personally though, perhaps if it continues and in a sustained form then yeah maybe you should have a word with your tutor but in all probability it was just a harmless remark made by a guy. God knows i had to put up with more than a couple fashion conversations conveniently brought into a discussion of Jane Eyre!

Reply 4

Xx Tomásíona - Mháire xX

14

bex_26797

Anyone else in the situation of where you are the only male/female in a class?

In my Ict class i am the only girl amongst 11 pupils, and in addition to that one of my ict teachers is a guy,

So when it comes to his class i am exposed with guys who use sexual innuedo and it is annoying,
today i just sat colouring in a picture because I basically had all the notes done, thus all the guys who sit there doing nothing were annoying me and saying that I wasn't doing the work.

I pointed out my past marks for ict prove that wherever method i employ clear works thus I don't need to comform to the teaching methods.

Then this arrogant computer points out that whilst i can do theory, he would "outstrip me in the practical/ computer task" whilst this does not hold any offence really.

The teacher took it out of context even though he understood the context and said that "the guy shouldn't strip me" which quite obvisiously is laden with sexual innuedo and got some laughs. I was appalled although i failed to speak out. Is that not totally inappropriate for a teacher to say?

Has anyone been in this situation? Am I right to boycott his class (contemplating this)? I don't want to speak to the teacher because he won't avoid making these comments.

I surely thought that a teacher should be sensitive towards his class thus would not make these comments.

Well to be fair, there were 4 lads in my sociology class (including the teacher) who were outnumbered by another 28 girls. Go figure really. It sounds like a bit of banter, but if you want talk to the teacher after class and ask him to stop or at least be a little less sexist.

Reply 5

bex_26797

OP

14

It still is extremely inappropriate for a teacher to make that comment and additionally the teacher singles me out thus making it notable, plus sexist comments.

Reply 6

bex_26797

OP

14

Xx Tomásíona - Mháire xX

Well to be fair, there were 4 lads in my sociology class (including the teacher) who were outnumbered by another 28 girls. Go figure really. It sounds like a bit of banter, but if you want talk to the teacher after class and ask him to stop or at least be a little less sexist.

Yeah but a least there were more than just one person of a particular gender!

Reply 7

Xx Tomásíona - Mháire xX

14

bex_26797

It still is extremely inappropriate for a teacher to make that comment and additionally the teacher singles me out thus making it notable, plus sexist comments.

Maybe the teacher isn't used to having a girl in the class maybe?

It's all tongue in cheek. Don't take it so personally. Most teachers in college are like that now, they like a bit of banter may it mean being sexist etc. as they know they'll get a response. But as i've said before if you don't like it have a word with him.

Christ, my sociology teacher used to tell us about sex referring to it as 'horizontal or perpendicular friction' and all the real smutty cases in sociology. Either get used to it, laugh about it and get on with things or talk to him about it.

Reply 8

Xx Tomásíona - Mháire xX

14

bex_26797

Yeah but a least there were more than just one person of a particular gender!

Yeah, of whom were usually targetted daily. Especially with references (since they all played football) of "watch for the soap boys..." and all the girls would laugh.

You need to understand, most people get the piss taken out of them at some point in a class or two. It happens, so what. Since we're in college, we're meant to have the same humour as adults aka teachers (sometimes you do wonder that though...) therefore one of the main reasons as to why teachers do this.

Reply 9

bex_26797

OP

14

Xx Tomásíona - Mháire xX

Yeah, of whom were usually targetted daily. Especially with references (since they all played football) of "watch for the soap boys..." and all the girls would laugh.

You need to understand, most people get the piss taken out of them at some point in a class or two. It happens, so what. Since we're in college, we're meant to have the same humour as adults aka teachers (sometimes you do wonder that though...) therefore one of the main reasons as to why teachers do this.

lol, ok i will take it passively, but i think he is has an obscure humour, for all the other teachers have a good sense of humour enablng empathy, but the teacher makes jokes about suicide which is a sensitive topic because a suicide occured extremely recently in our small town and people in the class were good friends with the guy, hence it really is inappropriate placed humour.

I will take it with a pinch of salt in future though!! thanks for the advice!!

Reply 10

LellyJelly

i think when ur the only girl it is unacceptable for him...

If you can try and act like one of the lads it may help tho... research gaming, cars and stuff & just let ur tomboy side come out and if your friendly yet still let them no that u a) dont want them as bfs & b) are pretty damn good it should be ok. Do remember that guys are more competitive anyway so it might seem hostile to you yet just usual friendly convey for them

Reply 11

ash_moo

8

last year when i was doing btec sport in school, we had 22 boys and just us 3 girls. plus every teacher who taught us was a guy.
it was crazy. they say stupid jokes, make smart-ass comments, and are generally very rude. teachers too. i have had situations where indecent pictures were being rated (the teacher was in it too). during practicals, i was often the only girl with all those boys. there's a lot of unnecessary physical contact.
but you learn to deal with it. show them that you're not happy with it. and try and ignore stupid things that they do. if it gets too bad, you have a right to complain.

Reply 12

lemoncake sucks

13

Hmmm in AS History last year i was the only girl out of like 8 boys and also the 3 teachers who taught us were also males. But they were all really nice, they were upset that i decided to drop it lol

Reply 13

brokenangel

16

chem 2 lads and me
physics 2lads and me
history just me
bio 2 girls and a lad

Doesnt really bother me lads are easier to get along with. Although yes the sexual comments can get annoying

Reply 14

sweet_fluffy_nuke

bex_26797

The teacher took it out of context even though he understood the context and said that "the guy shouldn't strip me" which quite obvisiously is laden with sexual innuedo and got some laughs. I was appalled although i failed to speak out.

That is sexual harassment.
Report him to the Principal/Head Teacher.

Reply 15

MidlandsBlondie

Business studies and Sociology are both all girls (though we only have 4 in business) in Politics we have 2 boys

Reply 16

Floob

1

I was in a PE class for 2 years with 16 boys, and male teachers. Didn't have the best time, but hey. Just laughed about and if things went too far told them to shut it.

Reply 17

coolguy456

I'm the only lad in my English class...I get all the attention haha but when we discuss things I get so pissed off because the conversation will go on to 'Men are such pigs they're all pricks'. I'm just like yeppp I am here. When I defend the male gender I have 10 girls including the teacher get all feminist on me! I never thought I’d say this but sometimes I really hate being in a class with all girls lol!