Posted By Erin on June 26, 2009

June 25, 2009 / Part 1 of a 2-part Series

When I was 16 and submitting my college applications, I only wanted to apply to women’s colleges.  My father didn’t understand this and kept asking me why. Or rather, he kept asking me why I wouldn’t want to go to a school like Pepperdine, a small co-ed college nestled in the hills of Malibu, California.

I couldn’t articulate it at the time, but looking back, I knew I wanted to be taken seriously as a student and learn how to speak up for myself and present ideas thoughtfully. I was still fighting shyness at that age (although I’m completely over it now, obviously) and wouldn’t often participate in class.

Some of it had to do with the fact that I went to 4 high schools and was always the new kid. Most of it was because I didn’t value my voice and didn’t trust that I had something important to contribute. I also could tell that the attention I did get was not, shall we say, intellectually focused.

I thought a women’s college would change this. And I was right.

Mainly, it was my perception of myself that changed. I learned to formulate theories and cogently present them.  My fellow students and I were interacting mainly on a scholastic level. Most important, being in classes without men helped me gain self confidence in my academic abilities.

This is the good side of women’s education and why there’s still a need for colleges comprising only female students. Sometimes individuals need extra support in a nurturing environment to realize their potential. I was one of these students. I benefited from attending a women’s college and wholeheartedly support women-only education today.

Here’s Part 2 in this series: Why I Went to a Women’s College (and Why I don’t Support it Today)

Categories: The Americas