Picture a class of 30 women discussing the exclusion they have endured in a patriarchal society. Then imagine being the sole male in on that discussion.
The pressure could become intense.
But, is women studies geared toward making men squirm?
Women Studies Professor Inderpal Grewal doesn't think so. She said women studies encompasses a much broader spectrum than just women. The division of the world by gender is a factor economically, socially and politically as well, she said. But because of these misconceptions about what women studies touches on, there is an overall lack of men in the department.
According to the Planning and Analytic Studies department, in Fall '94, there were 507 students enrolled in classes in the women studies department -- only 39 of those students were men.
Out of 40 students majoring in the women studies department, 39 were women. And all 29 people pursuing a masters in the department were women.
Grewal attributes this to the roles men have been assigned to in our society.
"People perceive taking women studies classes as not the 'manly' thing to do, because they think it has nothing to do with them," she said.
This false perception keeps men who could greatly benefit from acquiring the knowledge from attending these courses, Grewal said.
Susan Shiminoff, acting chair of the women studies department, agrees with the different perspective of our society that women studies gives, and goes a step further.
"There are theories and research in various disciplines that are written as if they apply to everyone," she said. "But the data that shaped the theory was based on studies of all white males. When we start to add women and other cultural perspectives, we find those theories don't stand."
Senior chemistry major Gennadiy Galerkin, who is taking Women Politics and Citizenship, said he feels women's studies is a place for women, and although men are accepted in the classes, it's hard to participate when you can't understand the oppression they have felt.
"I think it's a women's class," he said. "Some of their problems don't exist at all for me. Sometimes they express negative attitudes towards men. I just don't feel comfortable."
"I have my own opinion, they (the women) have theirs, I try to avoid having discussions," Galerkin said.
Bad experiences of others have left a stigma attached to women's studies, a stigma of exclusion and hostility towards men, that leaves some men miffed.
"I don't take these courses because I have a friend at Berkeley who has taken a couple of classes, and he got harangued," said junior Raymond Reel, a history major. "I don't want to be attacked for trying to enlighten myself, trying to get a different perspective."
According to sophomore Russell Kilday-Hicks, a women's studies minor, individuals are not being attacked, behavior is being questioned.
"Men have to go in there with an open attitude, you can't go in there and think you're going to be defending men," he said. "Men aren't being attacked, it's the roles assigned (by our society) that are being questioned."
A man's perspective in women studies is one of the keys to the understanding of the two genders, said senior Justine Franko.
"Men can absolutely benefit from these classes and women can learn from men, too," said Franko, a women's studies major. "I think the men coming forward and taking these courses are taking a big step."
According to senior business major Blair Craig, women studies is a "safe" place for women to talk about their issues, and for men to become better informed.
"It's not that men are stupid, they're just ignorant, and there's a difference -- ignorant means you can learn, stupid means you can't," said Craig, who is taking Literature by U.S. Women of Color.
"I don't find they (men) get attacked," she said. "I find they get corrected when a statement comes out of their mouth that is wrong. This is a good thing."
"Most men, particularly white men, have had privilege all their life, and don't know what it's like to be a group that's oppressed."
Even though women studies can offer the feminist point of view, some people question the need of a whole department devoted to the issue.
"I already know there's inequality," said third year sophomore, Kamila Kilayko. "I already know that women aren't treated fairly in the work place or at home. I experience that everyday, because I am a women."
"I don't think it's going to make women any better by devoting a whole department (to women's studies)."
Grewal argues there is a need for women studies.
"Many women felt their particular concern as women -- one part of society -- were not being addressed in the existing academic disciplines," she said. "Mostly because they felt feminist views were being marginalized in society. That doesn't mean feminists only look at other women, but, feminist readings of science; feminist readings of history; feminist readings of literature. All these things were relegated to the margins in existing disciplines -- that means there are only one or two classes in a large department."
Kilayko, who describes herself as an angry, minority Asian female, said women studies is a dead-end degree.
"What are you going to do with a degree in women studies, or black studies, or La Raza studies," she said. "You're going to sit around and bitch even more about the struggles and I don't know if they can get anything done."
"In an ideal world, an ideal society, people would realize there was a struggle, and work together to fix it," she said.