I am a woman in a male-dominated major. Every class I attend, there are mostly boys. Almost every teacher's assistant I go to is a man; rarely do I encounter a woman.

I remember going to a chemistry review before my final exam and my friend turns to me and asks, "Why is every TA here a man? Where are the girls?" I responded back, "I was just thinking the same thing." There were five people there leading the review. Correction, there were five men leading the review. It made me wonder why there wasn't a woman there helping us. Yes, I know I could be thinking too much into it, maybe there weren't any qualified women to be a teaching assistant, but I just find it hard to believe.

I've always been raised to be an independent woman, never to rely on a man for anything. My parents divorced when I was young, and although I've close with both my mom and dad, I've always looked up to my mom. She works her ass off every day to make sure my sister and I are able to get the education and support we need. If I turn out to be like my mom in any aspect of my life, then I know I've succeeded.

I hear all the time about how prominent sexism really is in our society. The most recent research shows women in the United States make $0.80 on the dollar compared to their male counterparts, according to the Institute for Women's Policy and Research. This. is. ridiculous. Why is it okay to pay women less than men, even when doing the same job? The answer is... it's not.

I am a woman in a male-dominated major, but I refuse to let that discourage me. Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) is growing, and I am honored to be apart of that! I refuse to give up, no matter the hardships I'm bound to encounter.

I am a woman in a male-dominated major, and I'm proud of it.