7 Reasons To Go To A Women's College | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

7 Reasons To Go To A Women's College

People keep asking me why I attend a women's college. So I made a list.

753
7 Reasons To Go To A Women's College
Newsweek

When I applied to six women's colleges my senior year of high school, a lot of people were surprised for a lot of different reasons. Some didn't even know women's colleges still existed. Others didn't know why they still existed. Most just didn't understand why I would want to be in an environment without men for four years.

While women's colleges may have outgrown their original purpose as the only places where women could access higher education, they're still incredibly valuable. Students continue to choose to attend women's colleges for all kinds of reasons. Here are seven of mine:

1. Traditions

One thing that most, if not all, U.S. women's colleges have in common is their rich, time-honored traditions. Women's colleges take their traditions very seriously. Like, very seriously. A year never passes without the famous Wellesley hoop-rolling race. Wednesday afternoons always mean tea time at Scripps. Smith and Mount Holyoke have Mountain Day every fall, when the president spontaneously cancels classes for the day. At Bryn Mawr new students are given a lantern in their class color.

2. Supportive environment

Some people assume that being in a community of mostly women would include a lot of drama and general cattiness. Fortunately, it's just the opposite. The types of people who choose to go to women's schools are just not like that. The people who choose women's schools are strong, passionate and thoughtful, and they tend to be very much committed to helping their peers succeed. Plus, the small size, traditions, and all- or mostly-female nature of women's colleges create lots of opportunities to form close bonds and develop tight-knit communities.

3. Strong alumnae network

A strong alumnae network is a natural product of schools that admit a bunch of women who love helping other women. This, combined with the tight-knit communities formed while at school, and the general positive experiences that women's schools generate, makes alumnae want to help contribute to the successes of fellow alumnae and current students.

4. Less violence

On a more serious note, the (relative) lack of men on women's campuses does make them safer. With the rapidly-growing problem of campus sexual assault, safety has become a big concern for students. While people of all genders are victimized at devastatingly high rates, studies have shown that almost 99% of perpetrators of sexual assault are men. Sexual assault can and, unfortunately, does happen at women's colleges, but it is much less common.

5. Fewer gendered expectations

Having a classroom filled with women is so refreshing. There is no longer the pressure to be "polite" or "ladylike" in class. Women don't start questions off by saying "I'm sorry." Without the politics of gender in the classroom, there is finally room to be who you are, whether that's a nerd, jock, dancer, scientist, or anything else. Female students are not only affirmed in their pursuits but actively encouraged to pursue majors and professions in male-dominated fields like science and math. Nearly all of the leadership positions on campus are held by women. This doesn't happen in co-ed schools--or anywhere else in our society.

6. Women-centered

I can't express how awesome it is to be in an environment where femaleness is normalized. While not all students at women's colleges are women, due to trans-inclusive admissions policies, the needs and wants of women are prioritized women's schools more than at any other institutions in society. Everywhere else, men are catered to; male is the default setting. At women's colleges, professors can't get away with only teaching about men or men's writings. People aren't embarrassed to talk about menstruation or birth control. Schools spend money on rugby fields instead of expensive football stadiums and coaches' salaries. Women's colleges are the only places where women are always put first, and that's pretty freaking cool.

7. Greater success after college

Alumnae of women's schools are more successful professionally than other women. Only two percent of women in the U.S. go to women's colleges, but women's college alumnae make up 20 percent of women in Congress and 33 percent of women on Fortune 100 boards. They are about twice as likely to attend graduate school, and about 1.5 times as likely to major in STEM than women at co-ed colleges. Students at women's schools are also more likely to graduate with "soft skills" like leadership and problem-solving. Women's schools have proven to prepare women better for the workplace, which is kind of a big deal. I mean, it's what college is for, right?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

180478
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

7470
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

452648
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23367
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments