American Women in College - Essay Example

Women were not permitted to enter institutions of higher education. It was a domain reserved for men only and it wasn't until public perception of women’s place in society began to change that women were permitted to attend college and all women's colleges began to appear. By 1910 women had begun to enjoy college attendance although they were not permitted to attend lectures and could not take degrees. ”Going to College Was a Badge of Class Privilege for Women”.(Lavender) All-women colleges were specifically for white women and at this time there were still no opportunities for black women to further their education.

In the years following World War 11, the number of students wanting to attend college exploded with soldiers returning from war and children from the baby boomer era attaining school age. As a result, the number of educational facilities increased and co-education became prevalent.” During the 1960s and 1970s, Due to Social And Legislative Changes, Several Institutions Of Higher Education That Had Been Previously All-Male Opened Their Doors To Women”.(Harwarth, Maline & DeBra, archived).

Women, now, participate in previously male-dominated occupations such as mathematics and computer and physical sciences. Studies of four-year term female colleges have shown that,” They Have Conferred Upon Women Equal or Larger Portions of Bachelor Degrees in Male-Dominated Fields Than The Norm.” (Harwart, Maline & DeBra, archived). Read More