Women in college aren't just fighting for recognition but reshaping what it means to belong in male-dominated spaces. Women's presence in these areas isn't just about taking up space; it's about carving out room for the next generation.
The fight for inclusion is not confined to tiered classrooms or research labs but plays out in the hobbies and extracurriculars of ASU women.
Flag Football
Sierra Smith, a sophomore, knows this adversity firsthand. A high school flag football player, Smith wasn't willing to leave the game behind when she came to ASU. So, she brought it with her and established the women's club flag football team. However, when Smith pushed for the sport's recognition, she was met with skepticism from the university's club administration, who believed there was not enough demand. Smith then set out to prove them wrong.
The turnout at the university’s first-ever women's flag football game against Grand Canyon University was impossible to ignore. The crowd, estimated at 400 people, reflected the sport's growing influence in Arizona.
For Smith, the team has produced a sisterhood that uplifts and overcomes beyond the game itself.
"One thing that I love about this team... win or lose, we are going to be there for one another," Smith said.
As a sports journalism major, Smith faces a different kind of pushback in the classroom, where being heard is often its own battle.
"As a black woman, being able to feel empowered and do things that our male counterparts do at the same level as them is something that I truly got from the classroom," Smith said. "My voice is not always heard. I just know that I have to step up and continue to get my points across, even if certain people aren't listening."
Her experience echoes a theme among women in male-dominated fields of being dismissed, interrupted or spoken to in a tone that teeters between over-explaining and condescension. But, like many others, she isn't backing down, and neither is her club.
Rugby
Julia Bognar, co-captain of the women’s rugby team, knows the sport is more than just a game; it is a statement. Rugby challenges traditional ideas of femininity, proving that strength, skill and intensity are not exclusive to any gender.
Since stepping onto the field, Bognar has faced her fair share of criticism. Strangers and older generations alike have commented on her muscular build, deeming it unfeminine. Others have questioned her place in such a physically demanding sport. Rather than shrinking under these outdated expectations, Bognar has only grown stronger.
She fuels her body not for approval but for power, treating herself first as an athlete. She pushes limits to throw, catch and slam stereotypes into the ground.
"We as a society deemed femininity to be a way that's not supposed to be strong," Bognar said. "It's okay to be gentle and loving and nice, but as women, we're also strong and powerful… I've never felt more of a woman than when I've played rugby."
Now in her third year playing the sport, Bognar describes her confidence as a direct result of rugby’s full-contact and strengthening nature. It has reshaped how she sees herself, not just as an athlete but as someone who refuses to apologize for taking up space.
Beyond the physicality, Bognar says the real reward is the bond she has created with her teammates. Rugby is a game of trust, forcing its participants to build a strong foundation with each other and the camaraderie within this team is unshakeable.
“I come to rugby, and I'm just surrounded by a team who will have my back no matter what,” Bognar said.
She describes this community as what progress looks like, not just in sports but in every male-dominated space where women are hungry for the recognition they have long deserved.
"Every month should be Women's History Month, but we're making progress," said Bognar. "Women are starting to not be afraid to take up space. We should all be taking up space in every male-dominated field."
Aerospace Engineering
Alexandra Roselle, a sophomore studying aerospace engineering and a member of the Society of Women Engineers at ASU, is pursuing her passion in a field where women make up just 13.6% of the workforce, according to Data USA. SWE prides itself on being the world's largest organization dedicated to advocating for women in engineering, a cause Roselle champions every day.
"You're told no a lot and it's really hard to not push back, but just keep fighting, keep moving forward," Roselle said. "All of your peers are guys, and they all make you feel like an outsider... Sometimes, you can feel alone."
Starting in elementary school, when Roselle first voiced her interest in engineering, she faced discouragement from teachers who planted seeds of doubt that lingered with her for years.
"Growing up, I've had teachers in elementary school, middle school that told me 'You will never be an engineer'", Roselle said. "'That's not for you, that's not what women are supposed to do.'"
Despite this, Roselle's passion for engineering never faltered. As she got more involved in the field, she found teachers who encouraged and pushed her dreams forward.
Roselle highlighted the importance of having female role models in STEM and how her community has given her the confidence to take on leadership positions.
"Seeing all these women leading SWE, I was like, why can't I do that?" Roselle said. "They're women, they're engineers, just like me. I can do that, too."
Roselle is challenging the barriers that have historically kept women from pursuing their passions in engineering. Her confidence shines as a beacon in a world where being a woman doesn't place any limits on her potential.
Medicine and Science
Noora Kathem is a junior studying business management and pre-medicine and currently serves as the president of Women in Medicine and Science. Through her role, Kathem works to create a supportive environment for women pursuing careers in healthcare and help them navigate the challenges of a male-dominated field.
Growing up as a Middle Eastern immigrant woman, Kathem has faced prejudice, especially when it comes to being taken seriously in healthcare.
"The West hasn't really painted Arabs in the best image, so we constantly are facing harassment and discrimination," Kathem said in a written statement. It has made it a lot harder as a woman and as a minority, because I have to work twice as hard to show my worth."
In her culture, medicine is a field where women are well represented, but certain specialties, such as dentistry and orthopedics, remain heavily male-dominated.
Despite these cultural and societal biases, Kathem has remained unwavering. She attributes this resilience to her belief in her worth and strong sense of self.
"If I want to be a doctor, then I'm going to be a doctor," Kathem said. "I'm not going to listen to other people... It's more like believing in myself and knowing what I'm worth and how hard I've worked."
Kathem's involvement in WIMS has been a source of enrichment and solidarity, not just for herself, but for the community of women she serves.
"They are capable of reaching those same goals that males do," Kathem said. "Just because it's a male-dominated field doesn't mean you can't be in it as well."
Kathem's role as president reflects the power of community for women navigating male-dominated spaces. Her ability to fight adversities inspires women to confront the complexities of intersectional discrimination.
Film
The number of women in the film industry has steadily risen in recent years, with pop culture movements sparked by influential female directors like Greta Gerwig and Sofia Coppola.
According to Statista, women now hold 25% of behind-the-scenes roles in the 250 highest-grossing U.S. films, a significant shift from the past.
Chantel Apodaca and Taylor Buckallew are both members of Women in Film at ASU, a club dedicated to amplifying women and other underrepresented voices in the film industry.
Buckallew has often questioned her place at the table, especially when she was among the few women in leadership roles.
"It's harder to get to that point where you feel confident enough to say, 'Oh, I can do this too,'" Buckallew said. "You don't see a lot of women doing it, so you start to wonder, 'Do I belong here?'"
It's not the significant moments of bias or discrimination that stand out to her but the numerous subtle comments from professors and film professionals that highlight women's challenges in the industry.
Buckallew emphasized the importance of having female professors who have been in the field. She felt the feedback was constructive and affirming, unlike some of the more condescending feedback she received from male professors.
"Getting feedback from them felt instructive and helpful, whereas sometimes it just felt condescending from male professors," Buckallew said.
For Apodaca, the challenges she faces are compounded by both her race and gender. Her involvement in WIFA stemmed from lacking female support in predominantly male film clubs, where she felt her voice was often dismissed. She described how her experiences on set forced her into a box.
"They think I'll have amazing ideas based on my 'stereotypical experiences' within the Black community," Apodaca said. "Or they'll expect me to be a 'diva' on set and someone people should automatically be intimidated by."
The feeling of female empowerment holds special significance for Apodaca. Raised by a single mother, she understands the strength and resilience of women who overcome adversity to make their mark on the world.
Her leadership is part of a more significant movement to recognize and uplift women's contributions to all fields, including film.
"My goal is to create change and build the space I want to see, not just for myself, but for others as well," Apodaca said.
Edited by Tiya Talwar, Sophia Ramirez and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporter at bmclar14@asu.edu and follow @clark_brande13 on X.
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Brandelyn is a senior studying journalism and mass communication. This is her first semester with The State Press. She has also worked for Lake Affect Magazine, ICT News and Cronkite News.
