Women are a popular topic in the news lately! Women's protest, women's empowerment, the birth control/abortion/etc./etc. debate... it's been interesting to watch. It started me thinking on how going to an all-women's school gave me a very unique perspective on what it is to be a woman.
I want to preface this by saying that my decision to attend Wesleyan was never actually because it was all girls'. In fact, this was almost a downside for me when I decided to attend, although I found it interesting and unusual for most colleges of today. I chose Wesleyan because they had wonderful scholarship opportunities, amazingly small class sizes, the faculty and staff was warm, personable and easy to get in touch with and, to be totally and fairly honest, because Wesleyan was in the same city as a guy I was dating at the time (judge as you desire haha).
I heard a lot of mixed things about Wesleyan prior to attending. "It's for Lesbians," and, "There's so much drama! Stay away!" and, "It's a really amazing school." "I can't see why it wouldn't be your first choice." And, from Grandpa, a solid nod of approval, "I like that it's all women. No men to bother you!"
Honestly, it's been the years following my graduation that I've really started to garner a deep and abiding appreciation for the education I received in undergrad. I have come to love Wesleyan more and more as the years have gone on. Wesleyan was full of its ups and downs. It's true, it was very small (less than 700 or so students) meaning fewer fancy amenities, so-so cafeteria food, and not really your "traditional" party or fancy college experience. It was quiet, downright ghost town-ey sometimes, and the weekends even more so. Geese wandered around campus and you could take quiet walks in the arboretum. Foggy mornings walking to class and quiet hallways. The dorms were cute and old and kind of retro, the library was no bigger than many small public libraries. The gym was tiny and no frills, the pool literally looked like something that belonged at the Biltmore estate, and forget Chick-fil-a or Starbucks on campus.
But Wesleyan gave me something a lot better than fancy amenities, quite honestly. Being a female majoring in science, my class sizes were never bigger than about 20-30 students at any given time. Some classes had only 8-10 students. This meant incredible one-on-one time with professors, and it meant we got to do hands-on techniques that some schools with bigger class sizes couldn't do (such as breed real fruit flies and hook up still-beating turtle hearts onto EKG's). It meant, if I had a problem with financial aid or classes, I could just walk in to see who I needed to without having to take a ticket and wait 2-3 hours. And I knew those people personally. They cared about my problems. My professors knew me by name. If I skipped class and they saw me on campus later, they'd hound me about it. The people in the cafeteria knew you and what you usually ate.
And other really unique things: class dynamic are just different when there are no males in the classroom. I'm not saying that having males is a bad thing. But honestly, it was such a safe and comforting space to be surrounded by nothing but other fellow, driven, hardworking females there simply to better themselves. There was less pressure to focus on looks, more space to excel academically. There was a sense of camaraderie and willingness to help your fellow women out. Women felt safe walking around campus - and it was a welcoming environment to really focus on education, not just boys or parties or whatever. There was a sense of empowerment that I think you can only get by interacting with other strong, focused, driven women.
Honestly, while I was going to Wesleyan, I wasn't really big on feminism. I never really have been. But over the years, I suppose I've come to realize that I do support feminism of a kind - recognizing the glass ceiling is there. Supporting fellow women in their endeavors. Supporting women who seek high level professions. Striving to rise up in a career of my choosing with no limitations. I'm a person that seeks success because I want it - not just a woman seeking success. I recognize that women from all different walks of life have different goals and ideals, whether it's stay at home motherhood, doctors, lawyers, CEO's, small business owners, travelers, you name it. There's so much beauty and freedom to pursue what you want. And it's all thanks to brave women in past decades who fought to help make the workplace more welcome for people like me who want to have successful careers. We aren't striving to simply catch up to men. We are equals who will not be held back. Feminism doesn't have to be what you think of it at its extreme: it can just as much be, being thankful for how women have fought for us over the years to change the workplace and give women all the opportunities that any person should have or want. That's why it's important.
Wesleyan helped me see the importance of femininity and womanhood all while empowering me to simply be the best person I could be. It built my focus, drive and confidence and helped provide an atmosphere that felt safe to grow as a person. It encouraged a good balance of femininity and grace, while encouraging drive and passion. Looking back, I had a really special experience, being empowered by fellow women of all races, nationalities and walks of life, striving for their own version of greatness in their lives, striving to be the best they could be. No, it wasn't the typical college experience... but to me, it was the only one I would have wanted. Yes, I had to get used to all-male classes again when I went to grad school (lol).
But Wesleyan was one of a kind, and it made me who I am today: a career-focused, proud, passionate woman who learned so much through having caring professors who took the time to really teach and push me. It was a comfortable place to let myself grow during the transition from a teenager to an adult.
It made me the kind of woman I always wanted to be, and I will always be proud to say I went to an all-women's college!
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