[EDEQUITY Girls Dialogue]Responding to Edwina's statement

From: Meg Manderson (mmanderson@edc.org)
Date: Fri Apr 27 2001 - 17:21:55 EDT


I'm just a lurker here as my teaching days, as well as my parenting time,
are long past. (Obviously! There is something wrong with the syntax
there!) But I just wanted to add my "elderly" two cents in support of
Edwina's point that co-ed classes more accurately reflect the society girls
will be living, working and, we hope, thriving in.

I do understand the notion that separation can give girls an opportunity to
find their way without additional, culturally weighted competition from
boys. But as Karen points out girls and women are often the worst offenders
when it comes to perpetuating stereotypes. Many years ago, before anyone
was thinking about these things, I attended both co-ed and single sex
schools throughout primary and secondary school. While there were no boys
in the mix in the girls' schools, the same dynamics occurred. Those of us
who were more aggressive and competitive were considered strange. We won't
even go to the part about being funny!

When it came time for college, I was under significant pressure to attend a
top ranked (all single sex at that time) school. I opted for a large,
urban, co-ed university because I felt that I had more to learn from my
peers than from books! I was right! (Wow! Even a kid can be right
sometimes! Go, Edwina!)

Much later, a friend attended the only all women's MBA program. She loved
it and felt liberated to be single sex environment. Then she graduated and
got her first high powered managerial job - in an all male environment. She
used to say she wanted her money back because they didn't teach her those
rules!

So I guess what I am saying is that for some girls, some single sex schools
may be useful, but our ultimate goal has got to be to figure out how to
live and work and learn together in an environment that celebrates what
each person can bring to the mix.

Sorry to be so long winded. It is a subject I still feel passionately
about, as you can see!

Meg Manderson
<mmanderson@edc.org>



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