Five-College males pollute classroom
Alison Doherty
Issue date: 3/4/10 Section: Opinions
Smith is a women's college. It is all over the college's literature and Web site. Disregarding issues of transgender inclusion under this title and its emphasis on women, men in the classroom change what it means to go to a women's college.
I myself understand and have benefited from collaborations within the Five College Consortium. I love the fact we have opportunities to take a wider variety of classes, use books from all five libraries and, especially, enjoy the increased social sphere that lets Smithies interact with not only students from other colleges but those of another gender. I also understand that we cannot enjoy all these privileges without returning the favor to students from the colleges, of both genders.
However, I am a little disheartened to find men in my classrooms. In fact, I believe this inclusion threatens the benefits of an education at a women's college without offering the social benefits of a co-ed school. These men may have interesting and different points of view, but because of the male scarcity on campus, the attention is drawn away from the class's subject to the boy in the room. Girls wear shorter skirts and more makeup to these classes. They gossip about him at lunch or try to flirt with him during class. It makes me embarrassed for the men in question, for my peers, and at times, for myself.
Studies show the benefits of single-sex education, especially for women. Females achieve more when separated from males. Part of this, which does exist at Smith, is the removal of learning materials containing strong masculine biases. However, another part of this learning benefit is that females gain more confidence, talk more in class and focus more on their studies without men around. These benefits are not available to Smithies who have men in their classes because of the Five College Consortium.
It is not just through of distraction that these benefits are taken away. Many find subjects uncomfortable to talk about in mixed-gender situations. Others feel shy around men or don't want to disagree with a male member of the class. Still others want to be able to not shower for a few days and go to class in their pajamas. These women were more likely to come to Smith.
A male-free environment was an implicit promise of the college. While I struggle with many of the aspects of attending a women's college, it is hard for me to see men in the classroom when I feel like I have given up a "normal" and, in many ways, more desirable social experience in order to reap the educational benefits of Smith College. I would love to see men in the dorms, dining halls, at clubs and activities and especially at parties, but the only place I see them are in the classroom, where I want to focus on Chaucer or Freud, not Axe body spray.
I myself understand and have benefited from collaborations within the Five College Consortium. I love the fact we have opportunities to take a wider variety of classes, use books from all five libraries and, especially, enjoy the increased social sphere that lets Smithies interact with not only students from other colleges but those of another gender. I also understand that we cannot enjoy all these privileges without returning the favor to students from the colleges, of both genders.
However, I am a little disheartened to find men in my classrooms. In fact, I believe this inclusion threatens the benefits of an education at a women's college without offering the social benefits of a co-ed school. These men may have interesting and different points of view, but because of the male scarcity on campus, the attention is drawn away from the class's subject to the boy in the room. Girls wear shorter skirts and more makeup to these classes. They gossip about him at lunch or try to flirt with him during class. It makes me embarrassed for the men in question, for my peers, and at times, for myself.
Studies show the benefits of single-sex education, especially for women. Females achieve more when separated from males. Part of this, which does exist at Smith, is the removal of learning materials containing strong masculine biases. However, another part of this learning benefit is that females gain more confidence, talk more in class and focus more on their studies without men around. These benefits are not available to Smithies who have men in their classes because of the Five College Consortium.
It is not just through of distraction that these benefits are taken away. Many find subjects uncomfortable to talk about in mixed-gender situations. Others feel shy around men or don't want to disagree with a male member of the class. Still others want to be able to not shower for a few days and go to class in their pajamas. These women were more likely to come to Smith.
A male-free environment was an implicit promise of the college. While I struggle with many of the aspects of attending a women's college, it is hard for me to see men in the classroom when I feel like I have given up a "normal" and, in many ways, more desirable social experience in order to reap the educational benefits of Smith College. I would love to see men in the dorms, dining halls, at clubs and activities and especially at parties, but the only place I see them are in the classroom, where I want to focus on Chaucer or Freud, not Axe body spray.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
akcgoebel
Amy
posted 3/04/10 @ 9:37 AM EST
First, I don't see how you can make your argument and disregard the transgender issue. That seems like a cop-out. Either they are or are not men.
Second, this article is an example of what has been happening at Smith for years. (Continued…)
Heather Noble
posted 3/04/10 @ 1:57 PM EST
I have to say I agree. My time at Smith was golden, and while I appreciated the occasional student from the other colleges, I really valued so much MORE the all-female environment. (Continued…)
michael
posted 3/05/10 @ 2:07 PM EST
This seems like fair play. ALl male colleges have been invaded by requirements to accept women and girls and the negative repercussions are no different than those at Smith. (Continued…)
Emily (09 Grad)
posted 3/07/10 @ 2:02 PM EST
Tell me, do you take any classes with male professors? This is a ridiculous article. Smith is not a vacation from the real world, where men and women frequently have to interact and discuss subjects uncomfortable to people regardless of their gender. (Continued…)
Martin Havel
posted 3/09/10 @ 9:31 AM EST
Before I started reading these unintentionally defamatory articles, I'd only shared my concerns about Smith with the closest of friends, fearing that I'd be painted as an anti-feminist--but I cannot rightly call myself a feminist if I do not stand up for gender equality. (Continued…)
EmmaA
posted 3/11/10 @ 8:16 AM EST
Hello,
I'm a junior currently attending Smith. While I did find a few points of this article interesting (I don't think i've ever seen anyone THIS committed to all women's education) I honestly don't find it realistic. (Continued…)
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