Although it's been over two years since I graduated from my all-girls Catholic high school (wow, that feels like a long time ago), I still hear the stereotypes associated with Catholic all-girls schools whenever someone finds out I went to one. Usually, the conversation will go "You went to an all-girls school? Why would you do that? That must have been terrible! *Insert stereotype here.*"
Usually, my response is that going to an all-girls Catholic school really was not that bad. In fact, I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. I graduated with a great education, a sisterhood, and the skills I need to take on the world. So, here are a few common stereotypes I have heard about all-girls schools, and the truth on these stereotypes.
1. There is a lot of drama.
Actually, there was not. Think about it. Most high school girl drama is caused by boys, so without them, we get along for the most part.
2. We eat salads, and that's it.
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We actually constantly stuff our faces. Free cookies and cupcakes at lunch is the equivalent of the hunger games.
3. We don't know how to talk to boys.
There is a thing called an "All Boys School" which we have mixers with so we aren't completely clueless. Although, I will admit that when I got to college and had to do school work with a boy, I was unsure how to do that at first.
4. We're catty.
See #1. We don't have much drama, so why would we be catty?
5. We have weird traditions.
This one is true. We do weird things, and we take pride in it. For example, my school drew F's on all the freshmen's faces on spirit days.
6. We care a lot about our appearance.
Actually, it is more of a competition of who could care less. We often go days without brushing our hair, and weeks without shaving our legs. We wear the same thing every day. We don't have anyone to impress.
7. We are cliquey.
Of course, we have our own friend groups, but we're like one big family! We love each other and support each other, even after we've graduated.
8. Our school has super strict rules.
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There were only a few nuns, and no, they did not beat us with rulers. We did have some strict teachers, like my ninth grade English teacher who insisted that we had to live by these three rules: No booze, no boys, and no dancing on the tables.
9. We're all lesbians.
Being in a school without boys does not turn people into lesbians. That is not how it works. Of course there are some lesbians, but I'm pretty sure it's that way at all schools, not just the all girls ones.
10. When we graduated, we all turned into Girls Gone Wild.
Not all of us had super strict parents who didn't let us have any fun. We know how to be responsible and still have fun.
So you see, many of the stereotypes about all-girls schools aren't true! I feel so lucky to have been able to attend a school that instilled the values of community, sisterhood, and respect. I wouldn't change my high school experience for anything.
