There is a multitude of classes at EHS from required core classes to hands-on classes like Wood Processes and Fashion Fundamentals. With a wide range of classes, some become stigmatized as a “boy or girl” class based on the topic or the gender ratio within the class. The FACS department is susceptible to this as there are classes such as Fashion Fundamentals which has a ration of 10 girls to zero boys. One of the main classes known within students as a “girl class” is Child Development. Child Development 1 currently has enrollment of 83 girls and five boys. Junior Rj Fabros is the only male student in the class and one of the only males who have taken the class.
While Child Development is focused on parenthood and at times more on motherhood, many male students choose not to take because they will never be a mother. Yet with the class mainly focusing on parenthood, it would be beneficial to anyone who doesn’t know much about raising a child.
“It would definitely be better if more guys would be interested in it because it creates a heavier amount of respect like, guys would know more and respect women a lot better and understand what women go through,” said Fabros.
Similarly, many girls are hesitant to take classes like Metal Processing and Wood Processing as they are “boy-heavy”. Wood Processing has current enrollment of 135 male students and only 11 females students. Senior Addie Neumann, takes or has taken both Wood Processing and Metal Processing and has loved them both, but didn’t start with many friends in the class.
“Some of my friends have actually said no, I’m not taking that, because it’s male heavy, and they are scared to go into something that is so different to them,” Neumann said.
Along with Metal Processing and Wood Processing, there is a Geometry in Construction class that has current enrollment of 58 boys and 14 girls. While it is under the math department, it doubles as a construction class where the students use the geometry they did in class on their projects they build. Female students may be less inclined to take this since it is seen as a form of woodshop and with the usage of power tools, building, and the overall construction is seen as a male duty in many people’s eyes.
“I feel like more girls should do Wood Processing and Metal Processing, definitely, because then it opens up an opportunity for women in general because blue collar is definitely male heavy, and having that second option for a woman to go into blue collar too would be great,” Neumann said.
According to the National Institute of Health, over 90% of blue collar jobs are performed by men, that can make many women fear going into that field which results in them not taking classes that relate to it. Wood Processing and Metal Processing can be highly beneficial to everyone when they are renovating future homes, building furniture, or fixing an issue in their house that could have cost thousands.
The PE department also experiences gender imbalances in classes. Personal Fitness & Wellness, also known as PFW, is a credit required for graduation, but after that students can choose whichever class they want. Due to this, many of the PE classes heavily female or male dominated. Junior Georgia Banderman takes Team Sports, one of the male dominated classes with current enrollment of 241 boys and 56 girls.
“It seems like a lot of just guys would take it, so it’d probably be, like, scary to take team sports if you didn’t have friends that you knew were gonna be in there” said Banderman.
Many girls take Total Body Wellness, also known as TBW, an aerobics based class that takes walks to places like Bread Co or QT at least once a month. Anna Voight and Mellissa Menchella both teach TBW. Menchella uses her class as a way for students to be able to find how they like to exercise.
“Gender should not be a factor when choosing a P.E. class, but rather, one’s interests and goals,” said Menchella.
Whether its History or FACS people should take a class they want, rather than being swayed by gender ratios or roles. Many students base some of their class decisions on whether or not they will have friends in the class, or if it is a girl or boy class instead of going outside their comfort zone. While the comfort zone is where most people feel safest, one of the biggest benefits to high school is the ability to try out new experiences and interests for free, and students should take advantage of that without worrying about any other aspect of the class.
“All P.E. classes are better when students choose based on their goals and the type of fitness they are interested in,” Menchella said
