Closing the Gender Gap

Caponi (Studies in Women and Gender ’08)

Wrestling, construction, conservative, and male are words not immediately associated with SWAG or feminism. I, however, am an exception to this line of thought. I am Rocco Caponi — a fourth year SWAG major at U.Va. I am the captain of the wrestling team and ranked in the top ten in the nation. I work construction during the summer, lean conservative in political thought and — last but not least — I am of the male half of the human race. Outside of the classroom I live in a world that is full masculinity, where manliness is considered a requirement, not a character trait. One might wonder how a man such as me could not only become a part of SWAG but truly enjoy the time I spend here. That question can easily be answered by a look at my professors and me as a person, as well as the reactions of my family and friends to my decision to major in SWAG.

As for my personality, I love a good debate, and there is no better place to find that than in SWAG courses. I became a SWAG major because of the atmosphere in the classrooms. The ability to discuss and argue a point in a respectful manner is hard to get in other majors that are more lecture-based. These are courses that I find fun to take and have made my college career more enjoyable. The professors and the students in these courses hold their views true to their hearts, from what I have seen, live out these beliefs in their day to day lives. Yet the part that is most impressive about the debates is the manner in which they are held. I remember the first SWAG course I took. I was the only male and I was outnumbered 20 to one on the issue of Title IX — federal legislation that requires (among other things) equal funding for men’s and women’s athletics. As a wrestler, this issue hits close to home. I was given time to argue my point and bring up aspects of the issue that others were unaware of — not as women, but as non-wrestlers. Those who disagreed with my position argued with reason and academic thought. Just as one feminist cannot speak for all women, I cannot speak for all men. While often in the classroom I might have the minority view, I am able to expand and contribute to the conversation, pointing out areas where everyone may not agree.

One of the main things in SWAG courses that is fun and interesting for me are the professors themselves. One would not expect a man to get special treatment in a SWAG course and this is true in every form. The professors, on the flip side, have never alienated me in any form. At times the best comment I can give on certain issues is that I just don’t know. Over the course of my studies, my SWAG professors have helped me reach a point where I have to say these words on fewer and fewer issues.

The most humorous aspect of being a male SWAG major is the reactions that I get from people when I tell them my major. Granted, a male SWAG major is rare, and a wrestler majoring in SWAG is probably even rarer. One common reaction is that people just don’t believe me! When I receive these reactions from fellow students I often try to convince them to take a SWAG course. Once I explain what I have written above, they understand why I enjoy these courses. I have succeeded on a few occasions but not as often as I’d like!

My family, on the other hand, was not surprised at all by my decision to major in SWAG. My mother just looked at me and said that I would be the kind of guy who would do this. I have always been the kid that never conformed to ‘normal’ standards, and was going to do what he felt was best.

I have enjoyed my time as a SWAG major and will continue to enjoy it until I graduate in the spring. I will continue to encourage my fellow classmates to take these courses because I have found them not only enlightening but fun as well. I didn’t enter the major with a great plan or goal. But the one thing that I do get is another perspective. Since there is no one or singular feminist view, it helps to be outnumbered in a class. Yes, a male SWAG major is a rare sight — yet I enjoy my major and would not trade it for any other.