Male engineering student explains why he doesn't consider female classmates his equals in eye-opening letter

There is still much discrimination based on gender prevalent in today’s society. Women are often questioned about their choices for something as basic as education or career. In many male-dominated fields, they are deemed to be lacking potential and skill and are underestimated. A mechanical engineering student, Jared Mauldin, studying at Eastern Washington University noticed this inequality and had to do something about it. He wrote a powerful letter to the editor of the university newspaper, citing the ridiculous discrimination he observed. He, too, noted a difference between men and women but in an impressively eye-opening manner. The letter was re-shared by A Mighty Girl page on Facebook.

Mauldin was pushed to write the letter after he observed the vast inconvenience for his study partner, Holly Jeanneret, per TODAY. The man noticed how, despite her smart and exceptional mind, no one wished to partner with her and would treat her presence as non-existent. Soon, he observed this ignorance from men towards several females on campus and had to address the same. Speaking to the women in his engineering classes in his letter, he said, “While it is my intention in every other interaction I share with you to treat you as my peer, let me deviate from that to say that you and I are unequal.”

He went on to point out every inequality women faced in his class concerning scores, opportunities and more. “Sure, we are in the same school program and you are quite possibly getting the same GPA as me, but does that make us equal?” he asked. Mauldin added, “I did not, for example, grow up in a world that discouraged me from focusing on hard science. Nor did I live in a society that told me not to get dirty or said I was bossy for exhibiting leadership skills.” The student went on to cite every discrepancy women face from their childhood due to a sexist world. “In grade school, I never had to fear being rejected by my peers because of my interests,” he noted.

Mauldin explained that, like many females, he was never asked to refrain from activities out of their fear of being too “masculine.” He wasn’t even told that he didn’t understand a hard concept because of his gender. “I have had no difficulty whatsoever with a boys club mentality and I will not face added scrutiny or remarks of my being the ‘diversity hire,’” he remarked. He added that his success, unlike for women, meant that he had worked hard and earned it. “So, you and I cannot be equal. You have already conquered far more to be in this field than I will ever face,” he concluded.

Speaking about his words, Mauldin said, “When you look at this letter, I said nothing new. I didn’t say anything that another feminist writer hadn’t said before. The distinguishing factor happens to be that I am a man.” While the letter has gone viral, Mauldin hopes it will help in bringing a change instead of taking the wrong approach and giving him praise. “I find it incredibly frustrating because it should be getting attention when it is spoken by a woman. There’s just a whole series of little slights that occur when a woman speaks,” he highlighted.