What it’s like being a woman at Stevens

I am one of the 30% that makes up the population of women on Stevens’ campus. People make jokes about the ratio and assume that it affects life here quite a bit. Being in a room full of guys when you’re the only girl is something that I had to get used to when I got here. But after spending a semester and a half here, I can officially give my thoughts on what it’s like going to Stevens as a woman. And I think my thoughts are going to surprise you quite a bit.

If you’re here looking for “tea,” I’m going to tell you right off the bat that you’re not going to find any. I’ve honestly had a great time here and although the ratio was a little different at first than what I was used to, I’ve acclimated and I don’t really find it a problem anymore. When I first told my friends back home that I was going to a technology school, they all basically said that I was only going to have guy friends because of how few women there are on campus. At first, I thought they were crazy — but to be honest, that was pretty accurate. I do have quite a few female friends, but most of the time, I’m hanging out with guys. Even as I write this, I’m sitting in a room outnumbered 3-1 by men. The great thing, though, is that I haven’t had a single problem. I know tons of girls that go to schools with a way more even ratio and have tons of guy drama and don’t feel safe walking around campus. I can say confidently (at least for me) that that’s not the case at Stevens. Because the ratio is so widely known and accepted, it’s an understood part of campus life to be respectful no matter the number of men or women in a given classroom.

Now, I’d also like to clarify that this is just my experience on campus. There are many other women that might have differing opinions. But to me, even as a woman, I’ve felt very accepted on the Stevens campus. I will point out, though, that I’ve made it a priority to surround myself with people that care about me and push me to be my best. There are always going to be toxic people no matter where you go, but I’m lucky that I was able to find a good group of people that put our differences aside to work together. Not everyone is that fortunate, and I’m extremely grateful for the friends I’ve made along the way.

Stevens may not be perfect, but from my perspective, I feel confident in being a woman on campus and being able to hold my own against the gender ratio.