| As one of two females in an anatomy class of approximately 50 students, I often wonder why there is a large gender disparity among majors at BYU-Idaho.
At other schools in the country, the number of female science majors is equal to, if not more than, the number of male science majors.
University medical schools around the country are changing their acceptance demographic. At the University of Washington last year, 52 percent of students admitted to their medical school were women, according to www.students.washington.edu. In its biology Ph.D. program, approximately 50 percent are women.
So why is there such a large discrepancy between BYU-I and other schools?
I would suggest women who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not here to get a job after they graduate. Most women are planning on getting married and being stay-at-home moms, and therefore find elementary education or home and family living a better emphasis.
That does make sense, I’ll grant you that, but what happens when you graduate from school – dare I say it – single?
There’s nothing wrong with being a grade-school teacher. But if you choose it solely to improve your families, this truth must be faced: some women and men have futures that don’t include getting married.
So what are the real reasons people chose their majors? They obviously may like the major, but there is also the possibility that men are science majors to become wealthy doctors and dentists and women are elementary education majors to become excellent mothers.
But may I say, no matter how prepared you are becoming for raising a family, there is no substitute for doing what you love. If teaching children is what you love, then more power to elementary education majors.
But if you chose your major for any reason other than driving passion, I say don’t be afraid of yourself! Find what you love, do what you love and the rest will follow.
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