The Disappearance of Single-Sex Colleges

Last week I got to attend an alumni panel facilitating a conversation with Theo Balcomb and Sabrina Tavernise from the Daily, one of the most-listened-to news podcasts today. These accomplished women carved out time to visit their alma mater and engage with students. This type of intentional community is why I love going to a women’s college.

At Barnard I’m surrounded by positive role models, and I see a community that attracts leaders and entrepreneurs dedicated to bettering the world. These connections are especially meaningful, however, because everyone in that room has the shared experience of navigating society as a woman.

I didn’t attend Barnard to combat deep-rooted misogyny or spearhead a new wave of radical feminism. Women’s colleges aren’t peaceful safe havens sheltered from the systemic challenges presented by our society. Women’s colleges, however, cultivate a distinct type of community united by the fact that we understand the reality of not experiencing the world as a man.

—Amrita Banerji, Barnard College of Columbia University, economics

We’re Too Modern for That

The idea of single-sex colleges is outdated. Nowadays, men and women compete for the same positions at the same companies. Higher education is supposed to prepare students to enter the workforce and the real world, making it ideal to have coed colleges. The job market requires people to work with everyone, no matter their sex, race or other differences.

Without these interactions through the coed college experience, people would lack the knowledge to engage appropriately and interact with people of a different sex. It is important to gain these skills from higher education. Single-sex colleges are forfeiting the opportunity to prepare students for the real world.

—Madysen Fry, University of North Texas, journalism

So Long as They’re Happy

Some people like mechanical pencils. Others swear by No. 2 pencils. There are as many preferences as there are individuals, and it is miraculous that these preferences can usually be indulged.

The same diversity exists in the market for colleges. There are Western schools and Eastern schools, schools with high admission rates and schools that are selective, schools on the beach and schools in the mountains. All exist because people benefit from different things.

The fact that single-sex colleges still exist (and are often highly selective) indicates that some students favor these schools above other available options. If the students are happy with their choices why force them to attend schools they’d enjoy less?

So long as students want to attend single-sex schools, those schools should exist.

—Lauren Smith, Hillsdale College, economics

What About Equality?

There should no longer be sex-exclusive colleges in light of the recent social push for gender inclusivity. To help people feel more at ease, efforts have been made nationally to provide rest rooms that are gender-neutral. Additionally, the Connecticut Supreme Court has recently opposed “women-only exercise areas in gyms and fitness clubs” stating that they violate discrimination laws.

The goal of higher education is to prepare students with skills for the real world. Working well with a variety of people is a key component of this. In the end, it seems obvious that Notre Dame of Maryland University made the proper choice in allowing male students to enroll there. This demonstrates its support for the gender-equality movement.

—Katrina Warren, Quinnipiac University, finance

The Answer Lies in the Economy

If there is demand, then there will be supply. It’s up to the individual student to decide what type of college he or she wants to attend. Ultimately, the choices of prospective students will influence the administrative decisions of the colleges.

If single-sex college admissions are dropping, then it’s only natural that formerly single-sex colleges would want to boost their popularity by opening admissions to more applicants.

Co-ed colleges give students a more well-rounded experience with exposure to more perspectives, more connections and more like-minded individuals. In the end, it’s important for colleges to take into account the trends and preferences of potential consumers and to think in terms of costs and benefits when making decisions.

—Sylvia Patterson, Trinity University, international economics

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