Why All-Women's Schools?

<p>Well. And so I guess we all agree on the root of what us liberals perceive to be a problem. Now we just have to come up with a solution... (no pressure ;))</p>

<p>it isn't what you've said, it's the way you've said it,..]]</p>

<p>They're just pixels. Often, how someone intends their statement to sound isn't conveyed well on something as one-dimensional as a message board. :)</p>

<p><this isn’t="" the="" place="" for="" a="" discussion="" about="" religion="" and="" nexus="" between="" liberal="" vs.="" conservative="" sexual="" beliefs,=""></this></p>

<p>You're right, but it <em>is</em> the place to talk about whether Smith, and women's colleges in general, provide adequate attention to the physical, social, legal, and psychological needs of women. This "empowerment" we're all talking about needs to go beyond the classroom if it is truly to work in the larger world. I'm not in a position to answer whether women's colleges satisfactorily address these issues. I can only hope that they provide enough support for their students. Obviously, no one system can be perfect. The question is: Do these schools go beyond the basics? Are schools that have a greater male presence actually more sensitive to the needs of their female students than are all-women's colleges? Again, I can't answer.</p>

<p>Although it seems like an obvious statement, I would like to add that women uniquely understand our physical vulnerability. It can change what we do and how we act. Guys simply do not have to think about safety the way we do. Yes, they know the basics, but they do not know the emotions. If a women's college cannot acknowledgement the depth of support women need, then no institution can. Safety and support need to go way beyond those blue lights seen on campuses across the country.</p>

<p>see post 279 above!</p>

<p>
[quote]
it isn't what you've said, it's the way you've said it,..

[/quote]

Maybe it isn't what I've said, but how you've read it! ;)</p>

<p>lol...besides, you haven't heard me say anything!</p>

<p>And so I guess we all agree on the root of what us liberals perceive to be a problem. Now we just have to come up with a solution]]</p>

<p>No problem, keep all men on an island until needed for procreation or to cut the lawn.</p>

<p>"No problem, keep all men on an island until needed for procreation or to cut the lawn."</p>

<p>Who needs them to cut the lawn? :-)</p>

<p>BTW, I hope this doesn't become an anti-male thread because I'm pretty sure that wasn't the intention, given the gender of the OP.</p>

<p>
[quote]
If a women's college cannot acknowledgement the depth of support women need, then no institution can. Safety and support need to go way beyond those blue lights seen on campuses across the country.

[/quote]

AMEN to that. Let's remember that we are replying to allegations made. In no way am I rendering what had happened as not serious; god forbid if that were my daughter. But let's not jump to conclusions without the facts. It is a good question you pointed out asking "are schools that have a greater male presence actually more sensitive to the needs of their female students than are all-women's colleges?" My gut feeling tells me the answer is no, but i also have no proof. Also remember, that if a college has had numerous experiences with assaults in the past, they would be more sensitive to them.</p>

<p>Who needs them to cut the lawn? :-)]]</p>

<p>Good point. You need to talk to my wife. I'm tired of doing it, riding lawnmower or not.</p>

<p>Technically you don’t have to be physically in the presence of the dude to make to make babies either. Hell, I guess we should do a Bonaparte and ban all males to an island, period.</p>

<p>
[quote]
BTW, I hope this doesn't become an anti-male thread because I'm pretty sure that wasn't the intention, given the gender of the OP.

[/quote]

As the OP, I hope you're correct. Reading my posts on this thread, one will notice that I strongly support a strong, equal education for women. That was, after all, what Sophia Smith hoped for when she founded Smith.</p>

<p>(Minor point here, but given Sophia was an evangelist, I'm sure she'd be deeply traumatized by a lot of Smith these days. I think it's generally better /not/ to discuss historical precedents when advocating what we need now.) </p>

<p>"No problem, keep all men on an island until needed for procreation"</p>

<p>While I respect the creativity of this suggestion, rlt, I think obviously that doesn't help the cultural things. Women sexually assaulting women, while way less common than crimes where a male is the perpetrator, happen at Smith as well.</p>

<p>
[quote]
BTW, I hope this doesn't become an anti-male thread because I'm pretty sure that wasn't the intention, given the gender of the OP.

[/quote]

LOL...I hope not because RLT and I have plans to to work in admissions together at Smith soon. :)</p>

<p>Women sexually assaulting women, while way less common than crimes where a male is the perpetrator, happen at Smith as well.]]</p>

<p>Yup, there was a rape of a woman by a Smithie at an apt in town.</p>

<p>I hope not because RLT and I have plans to to work in admissions together ]]</p>

<p>I've decided to become numero uno. I like the house the Pres is given and its view of the lake. The price is right too.</p>

<p>Don't worry, I'll keep my nose out of admissions, sorta :)</p>

<p>RLT, congratulations on your advancement! ;)</p>

<p><a href="Minor%20point%20here,%20but%20given%20Sophia%20was%20an%20evangelist,%20I'm%20sure%20she'd%20be%20deeply%20traumatized%20by%20a%20lot%20of%20Smith%20these%20days.%20I%20think%20it's%20generally%20better%20/not/%20to%20discuss%20historical%20precedents%20when%20advocating%20what%20we%20need%20now.">quote</a>

[/quote]

YUP! She'd be traumatized by what's happening and what has happened in the world since then as well. Given that fact, I don't think what happens at Smith quite makes the same impact.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Women sexually assaulting women, while way less common than crimes where a male is the perpetrator, happen at Smith as well.

[/quote]

Sexual assaults, regardless of who or which sex the perpetrator is, happens everywhere, and on every college campus in the world. This is not an attempt to mask the fact that it happens at Smith, but it is a fact of life. Date rape is the most common form used nowadays, and with the advent of drugs such as ecstacy or others that are slipped into drinks and render the user passed out, it's getting easier. Education is our best form of assistance in these matters. I would generally say it the parents reponsibility, but let's look at the lack of parenting skills nowadays.</p>

<p>"let's look at the lack of parenting skills nowadays."</p>

<p>I think that's a bit trite. Parents in American culture have never done much to educate their children on sexual matters. To the extent it's changed, it's gotten a little better. Education and parenting go hand in hand. How people are educated affect the kind of parents they turn out to be. Very few adults hold the exact same views their own parents did.</p>

<p>"Date rape is the most common form used nowadays, and with the advent of drugs such as ecstacy or others that are slipped into drinks and render the user passed out, it's getting easier."</p>

<p>Considering reporting rape used to be a far more taboo thing in society, heck, considering pre-1970s a lot didn't constitute assault that does now, it would be pretty darn hard to prove that crime rates are actually rising much. The fact remains there are other countries which do it better (and others which do it worse), so the fact crimes happen everywhere is no reason cultural and institutional change couldn't help. Student activists at Smith argue that women's colleges should be taking a prominent role.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Student activists at Smith argue that women's colleges should be taking a prominent role.

[/quote]

And I agree with those activists! Let Smith become a leader in this field as well, because it is much needed in society.

[quote]
Education and parenting go hand in hand. How people are educated affect the kind of parents they turn out to be.

[/quote]

Do you really believe that? C'mon! I must admit that to some extent that is correct, but parenting goes way beyond the education one receives. Parenting is so much weaker in these days of gangs, drug use, weapons, fights, road rage, single-parent families, etc. I'll give you an example: (here goes one of those when I was young speeches, but it is true). As a student in middle school (then, junior high) I bunked one day to go skating with friends. Needless to say, I got caught. My dad ripped me a new one upon his returning from work. Nowadays, most parents would get a lawyer to find out why the school hadn't gone to the home and brought their child to school when they realized he was late. Parents leave parenting to the schools, because their lives are soooo busy with other, more important things like work and a social life. Really pi**es me off! I even see it at this level, where students in high school are asking the parents on CC for advise because, according to them, their parents could care less about their education and refuse to pay for them to go to college.</p>