Many people like to believe that all women's college are a dying breed. While that may be true, there are still women's colleges spread all over the United States. So why then do people act so shocked when I tell them where I go to school: Mary Baldwin College, an all-female college. After talking to many other women who attend schools just like mine, I realized that this doesn't just happen to me, it happens to women all over the country who have decided that they want to continue their education at an all female college. We are all tired of being judged for our choice of school, and I know I'm tired of being asked questions like "why would you go to an all-girls school?" I went to an all-girls school because that's what I wanted to do, and I love my school, and if you go to an all-girls school as well, don't be afraid to tell people that you go to an all girls school and that you love it.
If you don't understand all girls colleges or why some women choose to go to them, here are a few things we are tired of hearing.
1. "Oh, you go to an all girls college, are you gay?"
This is one of my pet peeves. Every time someone says something like this, I want to scream. Firstly, I am not gay, I am straight, and have always been straight. Secondly, a person's choice of college does not have anything to do with their sexual orientation. Thirdly, lesbians, bisexuals, and gays are at every college across America. You wouldn't ask someone who goes to a co-ed school if they are gay, so why would you ask someone who goes to an all women's college? Lastly, it's none of your business who is gay, and who is not.
2. "Do you hate men?"
This is the most ignorant and idiotic question I have ever heard. No, I do not hate men, and neither do most of the other women who attend women's colleges across the United States. I bet guys who attend all-male colleges aren't asked if they hate women, so why is the reverse true? Also, believe it or not, we see and interact with men every day.
3. "You must be rich to go to a school like that."
I was completely floored when someone said this to me. Yes, I go to a private college, no this does not make me some rich preppy girl, I am actually nowhere close to being rich and this insinuation bothers me. Many all women's colleges give out very nice scholarships to the women who choose to attend. Also, when did my choice of college become synonymous with how much money I make? Furthermore, I bet people who go to Dartmouth college, the 8th most expensive college in the United States, don't get asked if they're rich, so why should I?
4. "Are you a feminist?"
This one actually makes a little bit of sense to me, but it's still annoying none the less. No, I am not a feminist, yes many of the girls who go to my school are, but the fact that someone is assuming that we are feminists just because we go to all girls schools bothers me.
5. Why would you go there? I could never go to a school that doesn't have boys."
I hate it when people say this because it's like they are judging me for going to an all girls school. What people don't seem to understand is that my education doesn't have to do who is attending school with me. I went to MBC because of the education, specifically the social work program. Who does or does not attend my college was not a factor into my decision of where to go, and I feel like people should not be judged by where they choose to attend college.
All women's colleges are becoming more scarce in today's world, but they are not extinct, Thankfully for all the women like myself who choose to attend and reap the benefits of these amazing schools. So yes, I go to an all women's college, no I am not gay, no I am not rich, and no I don't hate men, but I also don't see how my choices are anyone else's business but my own (and maybe my family's). These stereotypes about all women's colleges need to stop, and the girls who go to these schools should be proud of their choice, not shamed.
