Dominance is usually established pretty early in classroom situations. The brighter, more interested, and more aggressive students -- three quite different categories that don't necessarily overlap completely -- stand out. The other students tend to defer to the dominant group because they don't want to look foolish in front of their peers. It becomes very difficult (as well as time-wasting and conversation-killing) for professors to coax responses out of students who are basically hiding out and hoping they don't get called on.
I don't think a feminist manifesto is going to change this.
She has never had me in a training class, conventional classroom, first aid class, fire fighting class, or anything else.
I WILL speak up and ask questions!