From: oneil@odin.unomaha.edu (Sharon O'Neil)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: Single-Sex Schools
Date: 23 Jul 92 16:57:43 GMT
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha

Liz%Eng%Banyan@magnolia.banyan.com writes:

>jj@alice.att.com (jj is getting tired of being lied about) asks:

>>Is it true, however, that students at such schools, especially
>>the enourmously gifted, learn how to deal with the issues of
>>teacher prejudice and boss prejudice they will surely face when
>>they get out of school?

>I don't know if I'm prepared to categorize myself as "enormously
>gifted";-), but I am a techie, and I did go to a single-sex college,
>so I'll tell you how I've come to deal with things.

I, too, am not about to label myself as "enormously gifted."  I am
also decidedly *not* a "techie" but I did go to a single-sex *high
school* and I definitely feel that those four years (ages 14-18) were
well spent.

>I am less shocked than I used to be when confronted with someone who
>assumes, against all evidence to the contrary, that I am incapable of
>technical reason and accomplishment; but I think that, for me, my
>single-sex education is largely responsible for the fact that I never
>expect it until it happens.

For me, it is the opposite.  I am very well able to recognize when
someone (usually male) has decided that I am incapable of reason and
accomplishment.  Perhaps this is because I went from a single-sex high
school to a coed public university.  I went from an environment in
which I was not only considered capable and intelligent to an
environment in which I was sometimes considered to be incapable.

>But what I *don't* do, or haven't found myself doing so far, is
>assuming that there is something wrong with *me*.  I recognize the
>behavior for what it is: an ingrained, often unconscious conformation
>with the social myth that "girls can't do math."

I definitely would recommend a single sex school for any girl or woman
who wishes to attend one.  I think that the strength that I gained by
being challenged has enabled me to recognize sexism and to maintain my
self-esteem.  I especially think that a single sex high school is a
good experience for teenage girls, who otherwise would have to spend
time in public coeducational schools competing with boys.  (And
goodness knows, most 14-18 year old girls don't want to turn off boys
by being the intelligent, bright young women that they truly are.  I
have taught high school and observed this firsthand.)

>Different things work for different people.  A single-sex education
>worked for me.

One thing that discourages young women from single sex institutions is
the stereotype that single sex schools are bastions of lesbianism.
And, although I am sure that many lesbians do choose to attend single
sex schools, I remember that my friends and I spent a lot of time
decorating our lockers with pictures of boys.  I spent a lot of time
with members of the opposite sex.  Just not between the hours of 8 and
3.  There was plenty of time on the weekends to spend with boyfriends.
It was nice to not have to worry about boys when I was in school, to
be very honest.

sharon o'neil
o'neil@odin.unomaha.edu


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