Owl Post

Artwork by: TAHINA RAKOTONAHARY

I failed economics in high school. My teacher, a narrow-minded ex-banker, framed economics as a subject solely about money. “You either get it or you don’t…only one way to do it,” he would say. I felt shoved out, and discouraged my friends from taking it. Five years later, I’m an economics major.

“You’re a finance bro?” is the response I hear often. Men in quarter-zips staring at charts flash through my mind. Even though it’s a joke, it’s irritating when people reduce me to this stereotype. Some of that exclusion comes from how the subject is typically taught. I know the “founding fathers” of economics. Yes, they are integral to my learning. Yes, their findings are significant. But when the history of a field is heavily influenced by men, it’s easy to picture what an economist is supposed to look like.

It’s 2026. Many women have heavily influenced the field. It’s discouraging to see the lack of acknowledgement for them, and it leaves me questioning my position in this male-dominated space. Is there space for me?

Over time, my interest in economics grew. I started reading work that connected it to topics I cared about more. Professor Gupta, an economics professor at TUJ, played a large role in shaping my love for the subject. Her research includes international economics, development, and gender. Her confidence and enthusiasm for the subject uplifted me.

She encouraged students to look at the world through a wider lens, addressing us as “my fellow economists.” It’s a small detail, but it has a big influence on creating an inclusive space. “Economics is everywhere,” she’d often say. Seeing someone like me at the front of the room with a genuine passion for the subject was inspiring. Although I’m grateful to experience this now, I can’t help but think about how different my perspective would’ve been if I’d had it the first time around.

When I asked Professor Gupta why economics is frequently confined to finance, she stated, “It’s what people hear in the media and everyday conversations.” Economics is commonly discussed in business contexts, which fuels the idea that it’s solely about money. It being the science of decision-making rarely makes the cut in conversations.

She was open about discrimination in the field. Economics is seen as technical, and women are often told they are incapable of studying such a detailed subject. Even today, the gender balance is uneven. Gupta noted male bias appears frequently in textbook examples, but emphasized that “economics is for everybody.”

Unfortunately, there have been moments when it seems like economics isn’t for everybody. During interviews, she was asked questions a man wouldn’t need to answer, like “How does your husband feel about you taking on such a complicated job?” As a student, Gupta wondered if she was doing the right thing. Hearing this confirmed that the exclusion I felt wasn’t imagined. Even in a previous conversation, I subconsciously underestimated myself, and she interrupted me, saying, “What are you talking about? Don’t discount yourself.”

Bria, a senior economics student at TUJ, described a more complex experience as a Black woman. “Most will see an econ student and see a man before someone like me. Bonus points if he’s white,” she says. This stereotype changes how Bria presents herself, admitting that she worries about appearing “too Black” or “ghetto.” She takes pride in her professionalism, but as a Black woman, details like her hair and speech need to be altered to be taken seriously.

After deciding to study economics, she worried she “may not feel at home in the greater economic community.” But I felt myself beam after hearing what she said next, “If there’s something I want, I will carve out a space for myself.” I couldn’t help but admire her unapologetic ambition. She’s made great friends within the major and loves learning economics. “That’s all I need to belong,” she concluded.

I often think about my high school self, who failed the subject and felt excluded. Although I feel sad for her, I can laugh about it too. Now I’m sitting at the dinner table, excitedly showing my friends what I learned in lectures, doing the opposite of what I did five years ago. It couldn’t make more sense for an indecisive girl to study decision-making.

The more I study, the more I see economics everywhere. I no longer confine it to money or finance; I see how crucial it is to managing our world’s resources. Now more than ever, as our world faces growing complexities, economics shapes my views. I see how policies are designed and how societies respond to crises such as inequality and climate change. It’s about how we use scarce resources to improve as many aspects of life as possible.

I can only hope the next generation of girls doesn’t get pushed away from a subject because of a few backward perspectives. Women are integral to the development of economics, and we need to celebrate them more. Economics is too significant to be confined to one type of person; it’s for everybody.