Wellesley Speaks on Gender Policy

Parents Forum
1

Just received this letter to alumnae:

Dear XXXXXXX,

We are writing with important news. At a meeting on March 4, 2015, the Board of Trustees approved the recommendations of the Trustee Committee on Gender and Wellesley. This Committee was created to make recommendations for College policies and practices in light of society’s evolving understanding of gender, and the implications this change has for Wellesley’s mission to educate women. The recommendations of the Trustee Committee were informed by the findings of the President’s Advisory Committee on Gender and Wellesley constituted by President Bottomly in the early fall of 2014; by inquiry into educational, social, legal, and medical considerations about gender identity; and by extensive conversation and consultation across the community.

These have been important discussions for all members of our community. There are many points of view, and it was essential for all of them to be heard and considered. Many of our alumnae shared their perspectives, describing the transformative effect Wellesley has had on their lives because of our mission. Among alumnae, as elsewhere throughout the community, there were differences of opinion, but always a commitment to Wellesley as a women’s college. We are so very thankful for our alumnae: generations of women who care deeply about the College and who are committed to Wellesley’s continuing excellence and relevance.

You will not be surprised to learn that throughout its deliberations the Trustee Committee kept Wellesley’s mission and identity as a women’s college at the forefront of its work. Our founders, Henry and Pauline Durant, understood that educating women confers powerful benefits on society, as well as on individuals. It is clear that the concept of a women’s college, and the reasons for having one, are as valid today as they have been at any time in the past. Our ongoing commitment to women continues to inspire and empower each new generation of Wellesley students.

The Trustee Committee observed that every aspect of Wellesley’s educational program is, and should continue to be, designed and implemented to serve women and to prepare them to thrive in a complex world. This singular focus on women is a critical part of the Wellesley experience. Further, the Committee affirmed the importance of using language specific to the women we serve, because it encourages Wellesley students to see themselves as protagonists. Therefore, the Board of Trustees decided that in all institutional communications, the College will use female pronouns and the language of sisterhood, both of which powerfully convey important components of our mission and identity.

The Board of Trustees approved the recommendation to clarify the College’s admission policy. Wellesley will admit women who are prepared for a rigorous academic environment that challenges them to achieve at their highest potential. Wellesley will consider for admission any applicant who lives as a woman and consistently identifies as a woman. The administration and faculty will develop procedures and guidelines to implement this clarification in time for the next admission cycle.

Finally the Committee observed that Wellesley provides individualized support to every student as a valued part of the College’s culture. If, during a student’s time at Wellesley, the student no longer identifies as a woman and decides that Wellesley, as a women’s college, no longer offers an appropriate educational and social environment, Wellesley will offer guidance and resources to assist in making choices that are best for the student.

We wish to thank all those who participated in our discussions—the President’s Advisory Committee and the Trustee Committee, as well as the alumnae, faculty, students, and staff who took the time to express their personal views about this complex issue. It was heartening that, without exception, Wellesley’s mission was the foundation of every perspective and discussion. Wellesley and our work are important, never more so than today.

2

Consolation - I received that as well and was about to PM you to ask if you wanted to see it!

I’m personally very pleased that Wellesley is continuing to stand by the policy of referring to students as “women,” using female pronouns, celebrating the sisterhood of women, etc. It’s what makes the school different from any old LAC.

It seems to me that they are gently going to encourage the students who transition to male to leave, which I’m fine with - I don’t think they should be kicked out, but if they remain, they need to understand that they are now men at a women’s college, and just as they’ve found their new identity, they need to respect Wellesley’s identity.

My daughter’s reaction was that she wasn’t 100% sure about admitting trans women at this juncture, but felt it was a non-issue because the number of 17 yo’s who were truly committed to now living as women and were academically qualified was vanishingly small. (And of course it’s not going to affect her as she is graduating - knock on wood!)

In any case, it felt pretty good to me, as a somewhat-linked member of the W community. Consolation, your thoughts?

3

Also, Consolation - never fear, the media has already picked up on it - with the headline being that W is going to accept transgender students - instead of what I think is the REAL message of this, which is that W is and remains a college for women, and will continue to use female pronouns, etc. in messaging.

I have to confess, I would not be very happy at graduation if my D were referred to as simply a Wellesley student, not a Wellesley woman. She can, of course, be both, but an important part of why she’s there is the latter.

4

Well, good for them. I don’t think they should gently encourage students who begin to express a male identity to leave, but I do think they should encourage those students to understand themselves as men remaining in a sisterhood.

5

It’s not my business, though as I went to an all girl high school, so I am familiar with the territory, I thought this was the most logical outcome.

6

Great decisions.

This is terrific. And admitting trans girls is also a good step, though it won’t affect very many people.

7

Somehow I can’t seem to get on this email list so thank you so much for posting!! I am thrilled with this result. It is exactly where I hoped Wellesley would go on this issue and reaffirms its commitment and mission to educating women.

8

Hanna - I read it not as much as encouraging trans men to leave, but affirming that trans men are now affiliated with a women’s college and if that identity proves troublesome, consider going elsewhere.

9

Never underestimate peoples’ ability and desire to focus on what they feel are the most sensationalist items.

10

Amen. I saw the coverage in the Boston Globe and was like … really? That missed the whole point.

11

The Bryn Mawr board sent out a similar email last month. I expect that all of the women’s colleges are facing these same isues.

12

My translation is: Transwomen are free to apply, and someday we may even accept one, who knows? Transmen are free to remain, but expect a call from our transfer coordinator when you start to complain about being addressed as a woman.

13

I am VERY happy with this, in all respects. I answered the alumnae questionnaire–which in classic W style consisted of essay questions, not multiple choice! ^:)^ --and asked basically for exactly this.

I am particularly happy that they made a point of affirming “the language of sisterhood.” I’m glad they didn’t back away from that.

I agree that all women’s colleges have or will face these issues. In the case of Wellesley, there had recently been a lot of publicity about a few students who transitioned to male.

I haven’t seen any of the publicity yet. I suppose it is inevitable that they would seize upon the admissions policy and ignore the real issue: the affirmation of Wellesley’s identity and importance as an institution dedicated to the education of women.

14

Just fyi, JHS, it’s “trans women” and “trans men,” not “transwomen” and “transmen.” Just as you don’t say “gayman,” “blackwoman,” etc. In other words, “trans” is an adjective describing one attribute of a person, not an inextricable modifier of their status as men and women. I am many things – a trans woman, a Jewish woman, and a New York woman, among others. They all have significance to who I am, but none of them defines me entirely.

15

The Wellesley announcement seems pretty much in line with Bryn Mawr’s recent policy change, as far as I can tell. Realistically, I don’t think these policy changes will affect more than a handful of young trans women each year. Trans people represent a tiny percentage of the population in the first place (nobody knows exactly, but it’s certainly much less than the 3-5% estimates of the gay and lesbian population), and one has to reduce that further by limiting the affected group to those who are qualified for admission to a selective college, those who have already come to terms with who they are by the time they’re in high school, those who are out to their parents (and, even more importantly, those whose parents accept and support them), and those who have not only begun but completed their social transition (even leaving medical transition aside), and live full-time as girls, by the time they’re applying to college. The trans girl who was rejected by Smith a couple of years ago, even though she was living full-time as herself, is one example who comes to mind, but I don’t think there are that many others who will qualify each year even under this kind of revised standard. Although it seems to me that if the mission of an all-women’s college is to support and encourage young women and provide them with a reasonably safe learning environment (among other things), young trans women, facing a still-generally hostile world, need that as much as anyone. Certainly as much as a trans guy who doesn’t even identify as a woman.

16

OK, this might be a somewhat insensitive question to ask, but I am gonna ask anyway. I have not committed to Wellesley (accepted EE), but I am seriously considering it. The question is: if I am assigned a roommate who is trans gender, would the housing people grant my request for a change of roommate (or room)?

According to this NYT article, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/magazine/when-women-become-men-at-wellesley-college.html?_r=0, apparently Wellesley campus has both trans women and men, hence I am a little unclear on this “admitting trans women starting for the class of 2020” thing.

17

Amherst5168, that article does not say that there are trans women (i.e., women assigned male at birth) presently at Wellesley; in fact, it says the opposite. Hence, the need for the policy change. And according to both past and present policy, a trans man (a man assigned female at birth) who already identifies as male wouldn’t be admitted in the first place. So the chances of your being assigned to room with a trans man in your first year would appear to be nil; the same with a trans woman, since the policy allowing their admission doesn’t take effect until next year. Of course, even if trans women were already being admitted, and you were assigned one as a roommate, how would you necessarily know? I doubt that they’ll be required to wear identifying symbols, and not all trans women are “visibly” trans by any means.

18

Why don’t you just call up and ask?

19

I have no idea, but I would be inclined to think that they would not want to force any student to stay in an extremely uncomfortable position, including the transgender student.

Personally, I would try not to prejudge. A–I can’t believe I am using this term-- cis-gendered female might feel perfectly comfortable with a trans woman.

20

Perhaps it might be appropriate for me to point out that I shared hospital rooms more than once with non-trans women, after I transitioned but before I had my surgery in 2009 (i.e., my Montreal adventure, which some of you may remember!), as well as since 2009, and none of my roommates had any idea about my history. Why would they?