The author reflects on the irony of feeling fear from a female student closing the office door, reversing typical gender dynamics. This experience brings forth discussions about fear—particularly how some fears are rational, such as a fear of heights, while others, like fear of flying, can be irrational. The narrative highlights the need to understand the origins and validity of our fears, especially in the context of gender and authority, while advocating for an open-door policy to alleviate those fears for students.
I realized that this was a reversal: it is usually the woman who feels the shiver of fear when a man is closing the office door.
I always keep the door open. As such, it was ironic that I would be one scared by the closing of my office door by a woman.
An important question about a fear is whether it is rational.
While I have been told and have told myself that flying is nothing to fear, this does not work. Statistics and proof do not change how I feel.
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