I just found out about this new book that was released yesterday called “Learning Like a Girl: Educating Our Daughters in Schools of their Own,” by Diana Meehan. It’s about the perks of all-girls schools and how they have been statistically proven to cultivate leaders (plus, they tend to churn out more math and science majors and pre-med students than co-ed schools. Concidence? I think not). Diana Meehan is the founder of the Archer School, an all-girls middle school/high school in Los Angeles.
Tom Hanks and Arianna Huffington just endorsed the book, which, to me, means a lot. Hanks said of the book, “From the perspective of a father of an Archer Grad, a single sex all girls’ school may not be for every young woman. Just those who want to one day rule our City–State and the world.”
When I finish reading the book, I’ll definitely post a review. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on all-girls schools? I don’t know much about all-girls high schools and middle schools, except that I attended GirlSummer, a two week summer program for high school girls at the Emma Willard School, when I was going into the 10th grade. I had just recovered from anorexia, and being in an all-female environment with other smart, savvy girls was the best thing I could have possibly done to rebuild my confidence and my good body image. I’ve been toying with the idea of transferring to an all-women’s college; I just got into Mount Holyoke College (where Baby went in Dirty Dancing) and I’m waited to hear from Smith (I got rejected from Barnard, and am debating publicly whining about it in another post). I have a feeling that going to an all-women’s college could be really empowering. All the stereotypes about women’s colleges being for ugly women and lesbians are totally untrue: I have a few friends who went to/graduated from Barnard, Smith, and Mount Holyoke, and they are actually some of my prettiest friends (and yes, they’re straight, too).
Cannot WAIT to Read This Book
By Liz Funk on May 22nd, 2007 ·
Tags: Girl power · School · College · Celebrities · Books
3 responses so far ↓
1 Maddie Lear // May 22, 2007 at 8:47 pm
When it comes to all-girls schools, in my opinion, it’s fine to go there if you don’t feel the need to go there. If you are going just because you love the school and the all-girls part is an okay plus, then I think it’s fine. But, for a girl who feels like she needs to go to an all-girls school, I don’t think it’s fine because then, I think, they will become to dependent on that and rarely feel comfortable/equal/like she can speak smartly and fearlessly in front of boys.
2 Jamia // May 23, 2007 at 12:55 am
Liz you are going to love Mt. Holyoke. I went to St. Timothy’s School in Maryland for high school and it helped shape the strong and fierce women my classmates and I are tody. It was amazing. St. Timothy’s was started by early feminists called Bluestockings. Our school also was the first to offer basketball for women. (three court basketball) and we honored it with a celebration every year. There is a special energy that comes with sister space where you are safe to learn and explore without sexual harrassment, sexism, and patriarchy rearing their ugly heads constantly. We worked with men in classes that were held with brother schools, did community service and social events with them, and met men at workshops and educational events like model un. we also created relationships with other women through sports and academic partnerships with other girl schools. for certain women, i think it is a really good choice. not for all, but for me it was a great fit and i have strong bonds, amazing female friendships, and a love for the sisterhood. i don’t feel the need to be competitive with other women in the level that some other catty women i’ve encountered have. i always feel like my experience forming strong female friendships young in girl space really helped enable this.
3 Neelofer // May 24, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Liz, congrats on Mt. Holyoke, for one.
As for the question you posed, I agree with above commenter Maddie. I think if you choose a school and it happens to be an all-girls school, that’s great. But, I know, it wouldn’t work for me personally. I’m not sure why but I’ve always had a lot of trouble interacting with girls who are supportive of each other.
I’m glad to hear statistics about all-girls schools cultivating leaders. The last thing the women’s movement or any equality movement needs is to sabotage itself by not empowering each of its constituents.
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