Equal gender representation is a looming challenge in university classes. I received my PhD from a particularly progressive institution in the United States. Even then, I distinctly remember two
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semesters where I was the only woman in both my Mughal history and history of science seminars.
This was in sharp contrast to modern South Asian history and history of medicine classes with
higher representation of women. I realized that the barriers to entry in both my fields resulted from the range of knowledge, skills and abilities that they required; mastery of medieval and modern languages, deployment of mixed methods, abstract and speculative thought as well as the drive to create theories and concepts. Most women found these daunting given their resource-intensive nature. Hence, only a few had the means to be able to pursue training in each of these areas to
successfully complete a complex dissertation project. While individual professors were sensitive to unequal classroom dynamics, there was little to no recognition of the perils of gender disparity at the institutional level.
Since then, I have become particularly attuned to gender disparities at universities which are the apparent hub of progressive thought and diverse participation. Now, teaching at a global university based in Karachi, I find myself facing a flipped gender ratio. My history classes have far higher female enrollment than male. While, I thoroughly enjoy teaching these students, there is a troubling trend that underlies the higher representation of women in humanities classes. It appears that even while male students enjoy and excel at the study of the past, they do not consider History to be a
professionally viable path to follow. Understandably, Generation Z is concerned about their career prospects in challenging economic conditions and stringent visa regimes that increasingly deny
access to higher educational opportunities. As a professor, my goal is not a self-absorbed promotion of my discipline. Rather my desire is that anyone who is passionate about history should be able to pursue it as a career regardless of gender. I remain cautiously optimistic that increased exposure may lead to diverse representation.
Author: Mariam Sabri
