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When she makes that remark I typically ignore it because if I make a snarky comeback it may lead to an argument or even physical altercation. She's obviously trying to bait me into arguing with her. If I bring up the fact that she's a single mother with two out of wedlock kids, things are going to get nasty and we're likely to get into a fight. That's why I felt that the Dean needed to intervene
Takes two to argue, or heaven forbid, get physical.
Which is why I suggested laughing her off. Make a joke out of it, and walk away.
When she makes that remark I typically ignore it because if I make a snarky comeback it may lead to an argument or even physical altercation. She's obviously trying to bait me into arguing with her. If I bring up the fact that she's a single mother with two out of wedlock kids, things are going to get nasty and we're likely to get into a fight. That's why I felt that the Dean needed to intervene
You need to understand the role of the dean before you choose the dean as the appropriate route for your personal situation. The role of the dean is to hire and manage staff, oversee curriculum mapping, address academic concerns, ensure high student completion rates, put the school on the map as "the greatest", oversee budgets, professional development for staff and other dean-like things.
You're right about not engaging, but I do think it's a mistake to report it to the dean. If you are having difficulties with interpersonal relationships in the form of remaining silent when other students are cruel, the most the dean can do is to refer you to assertive training courses.
When you write this: "That's why I felt that the Dean needed to intervene", it sounds like you've already reported this to the dean. If so, what did the Dean suggest?
What do you hope to achieve by reporting it to the Dean? Are you hoping that it will result in a black mark on the other student? If the Dean speaks with the other student, don't you realize that the other student will make it clear that she was merely innocently asking whether you have children, and she's sorry that she hit a nerve, that she didn't realize you were so sensitive about being childless?
Tell her that no one hands out gold medals for getting married before age 30. She "wins" nothing by getting married or having kids early in life. This is why I can't stand being around newly engaged women in their early 20s, flashing their diamond ring around and wanting to be worshipped by everyone. Ain't gonna happen. It's as common as dirt to get married and it doesn't make anyone special.
When she makes that remark I typically ignore it because if I make a snarky comeback it may lead to an argument or even physical altercation. She's obviously trying to bait me into arguing with her. If I bring up the fact that she's a single mother with two out of wedlock kids, things are going to get nasty and we're likely to get into a fight. That's why I felt that the Dean needed to intervene
There are a lot of options between "ignore it" and "snarky comeback" that don't lead to arguing and physical altercations and certainly don't involve getting someone else to handle something you should be adult enough to handle on your own.
Just say you're choosing to focus on your education, and leave it at that.
You need to understand the role of the dean before you choose the dean as the appropriate route for your personal situation. The role of the dean is to hire and manage staff, oversee curriculum mapping, address academic concerns, ensure high student completion rates, put the school on the map as "the greatest", oversee budgets, professional development for staff and other dean-like things.
You're right about not engaging, but I do think it's a mistake to report it to the dean. If you are having difficulties with interpersonal relationships in the form of remaining silent when other students are cruel, the most the dean can do is to refer you to assertive training courses.
When you write this: "That's why I felt that the Dean needed to intervene", it sounds like you've already reported this to the dean. If so, what did the Dean suggest?
What do you hope to achieve by reporting it to the Dean? Are you hoping that it will result in a black mark on the other student? If the Dean speaks with the other student, don't you realize that the other student will make it clear that she was merely innocently asking whether you have children, and she's sorry that she hit a nerve, that she didn't realize you were so sensitive about being childless?
I feel that reporting it to the Dean might help mediate the situation. Because she is obviously trying to bait me into a argument or even physical fight. She's a single mother with two kids, if I bring that up she is going to get mad at me and want to fight.
If she wants to know if I have a significant other or not, or plan to have kids in the future, she can simply ask. It's not that hard to do
You need to understand the role of the dean before you choose the dean as the appropriate route for your personal situation. The role of the dean is to hire and manage staff, oversee curriculum mapping, address academic concerns, ensure high student completion rates, put the school on the map as "the greatest", oversee budgets, professional development for staff and other dean-like things.
Exactly. It's insulting to the Dean to reduce his/her role to playground monitor.
There are a lot of options between "ignore it" and "snarky comeback" that don't lead to arguing and physical altercations and certainly don't involve getting someone else to handle something you should be adult enough to handle on your own.
Just say you're choosing to focus on your education, and leave it at that.
You're right about not engaging, but I do think it's a mistake to report it to the dean. If you are having difficulties with interpersonal relationships in the form of remaining silent when other students are cruel, the most the dean can do is to refer you to assertive training courses.
?
NOBODY has to tolerate harassment in an academic program or anywhere else. Yes if someone is being harassed on a regular basis by another student they HAVE A RIGHT TO FILE A COMPLAINT.
Nobody has to tolerate abuse and remain silent or keep trying to deal with the abuser on their own. Should she try on her own at first? Sure ask the person to leave you alone and stop talking to you. But if they don't stop, then it's time to report.
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Takes two to argue, or heaven forbid, get physical. 
