I’m returning to university as a mature student. I’ve been placed in a study group with another woman my age, and a young man of roughly 18.
Despite the reading list for this particular course being the first available, the boy showed up to our discussion without having even bought the book. In order to do the set work, we were obligated to provide him with a copy of the text (photocopied). He listened to our discussion, contributing nothing, then volunteered to present the work to the class. I said we should think about it and meet again later, after he’d actually read the work in question. He seemed annoyed, but agreed.
On leaving the session, I happened to be a few people behind him in a lunch queue and overheard him bragging to a friend that this was his ‘study’ tactic – do nothing, then volunteer to talk because ‘housewives feel too old and fat to stand up in front of young people, so they tell me all the work they’ve done and I just have to say it.’.
I confronted him after this – he was rude, implied I was making it up.
I’ve refused to work with him in the presentation. Myself and the other student are meeting alone. I’ve emailed my tutor as to why. I haven’t had a response.
I wonder how many young men have degrees due to the hard work of older women…
