Im very angry, why do my boy professional school classmates act like this towards me?

[Anonymous]

This is a serious question, and no liking or love involved here. I’m extremely angry by the way my 2 boy classmates are acting towards me. I’m stuck with them for the next 4 weeks.

They just talk to each other all the time, avoiding eye contact with me, and only help each other out. They hardly help me. I feel so depressed because I’m all on my own. They have more experience or are smarter than me. When I ask them a question, they avoid eye contact with me completely.
I feel this is really rude, I almost felt like crying just sitting there. People generally find me attractive, because I’ve got along most of the time with others, and they treat me well.
But these guys are acting all superior, treating me poorly, like they are the best.

Are they doing this because I’m not smart or dumb, or because I’m a girl and whatnot?

[Sixgunsound]

Some boys are still teenagers, even in a professional setting. If they feel you are intruding on their or men’s in general territory they may have an immature outlook and be trying to grind your morale down to get you to quit. I know it is difficult but don’t give them the satisfaction.

[Asker]

What should I do in this case? I’m not that vocal and have a quiet personality. They are both very vocal. It’s just not fair to me.

[Sixgunsound]

You’re right, it’s not. Most of life isn’t. Beat them at their own game. Humiliate them academically and on practical demonstrations. From the brief snapshot you’ve given of the situation my read is their maturity level and sexism coupled with safety in numbers is leading them to be more overt about their feelings towards women entering the profession. If you don’t mind, what kind of profession is this? They don’t seem very professional. People like that are unlikely to be academic rock stars, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to be able to show them they got beat by a girl. I’ll be telling my two daughters the same thing when this happens to them. I have no illusions that the word if would be applicable.