Even in the twenty-first century, patriarchy holds society in a tight grip. Women have made great progress towards equality. Time and time again, women have disproved stereotypes and infiltrated male-dominated fields. However, we are still far from a fair world. Although it seems counter-intuitive to equality, female-only spaces support women and their aspirations. Co-ed spaces often fall short of creating an inclusive space for women.
There are many benefits to sending young female students to all-girls schools and women’s colleges. It supports their development immensely. In the classroom, female students often succumb to gender stereotypes and believe they are not as intelligent as male students. Female students at all-girl schools are highly encouraged to enter STEM fields. The lack of male influence proves that they can enter any career field, despite common stereotypes associated with their gender. A study by Allegheny College found 88% of students attending all-girls schools were more comfortable being themselves. This allows female students to put focus on their academics. The young girls are unafraid to answer questions and speak up in the classroom. The supportive space encourages the female students to become leaders and reach aspirational goals.
Outside of the classroom, joining female-only communities can help women support other women. Examples of these communities include Girl Scouts, HerCampus (shoutout!), book clubs, women’s only gyms, female-employee groups within the workplace, and female friendships. In co-ed spaces, women often feel self-conscious about their interests, but female-only spaces provide an outlet for women to be unapologetically themselves. If you are a fitness buff, joining a women’s only gym is a great option. The gym can often be an uncomfortable space for women as men can act predatory. One in five women has been sexually harassed while at the gym. A safe environment can facilitate a better workout. Within the workplace or school, women often feel overshadowed by their male counterparts, especially in the STEM field. Female-only spaces create bonds where women can listen and support each other. Typically, women’s issues retaining to menstruation, menopause, hormones, among many others are faced with stigma. Female spaces allow for an open dialogue about these issues. Lastly, women who face discrimination are often forced to minimize their experience and ignore the disparities they observe. Women’s only spaces allow for these issues to be openly discussed and lead to change.