I Studied In An All-Girls School And This Is How It Shaped My Mindset

The concept of girls' colleges has been debated for a long time, and opinions on their necessity and effectiveness differ widely. Some argue that girls-only colleges are essential because they provide a safe and inclusive environment for young women to learn and grow without facing the biases and discrimination they might face in a co-educational setting.

Others argue that segregating women from men only perpetuates gender stereotypes and restricts their opportunities for growth and development.

Girls Only Colleges: Prevailing Dichotomy of Opinions

On the one hand, girls-only colleges can provide a supportive environment for young women to explore their interests and develop their skills. Research has shown that girls-only colleges can offer better academic outcomes for female students, including higher graduation rates, better career prospects, and higher salaries after graduation. By removing the distractions and pressures of being in a co-educational environment, girls-only colleges can also allow young women to focus on their studies and develop their talents.

On the other hand, some argue that girls-only colleges can also perpetuate gender stereotypes and limit opportunities for growth and development. By segregating women from men, girls-only colleges may reinforce the idea that women need protection and cannot thrive in a mixed-gender environment. Additionally, girls-only colleges may limit the opportunities for female students to learn how to work collaboratively with male colleagues, which is essential for success in many industries.
Notions Behind the Induction of Girls-Only-Colleges

During the nineteenth century, women-only colleges were formed as part of an all-India effort to assert the right to education for women. Bethune College in Kolkata was India's first women's college. It was founded in 1879 by John Bethune. The supporters of women's colleges have successfully created a space outside of the male gaze that nurtures women as change agents.

Indraprastha College for Women, inaugurated in 1924, is Delhi's oldest women's institution. Its beginnings may be traced back to the Indraprastha Girls School, which was formed in 1904 by Delhi theosophists led by Lala Jugal Kishore in response to Annie Besant's plea. It was shortly recognised as a constituent institution by the University of Delhi. The number of women's colleges associated with the University of Delhi has expanded to 22 since then.

Opponents of all-women educational institutions frequently contend that they create gender ignorance. This can have an impact on one's capacity to work with people of the opposite gender and build meaningful connections with them.

What Does My Discretion Say About Girls School Where I Grew Up?

It is aptly said that only the bearer knows where the shoe pinches. While growing up in girls-only schools, I realised how it segregates us from another gender and shapes our fragile minds hostile and alienated from every other gender. While being asked to jot down essays on gender equality, girls used to peep into each other's copy but they always found the same sentiments. Consequently, it shaped me into a gender-segregated person who could ruminate within a certain vicinity. Now, I come to see how boys are raising their voices against gender equality and also elucidate the steps undertaken to solve it. Today, sitting among my male and female friends in a co-education fostering college, I wonder how every one of them has turned me into the person I am, how they all have untangled my messy musings non-deliberately.

Amusing Instances which Unveils the Vitality of Co-Education

A few days back, one of my friends, Tejas was being nostalgic and told me how he used to keep dinner prepared for her mom when she came back from her office. Ikrant who was keeping silent comes out from the pal of utter silence and reckons how he bought a sanitary napkin for her girlfriend when the dispenser machine at school ceased working.

These incidents are the testimony of a gender-inclusive society and its vitality of it. It doesn't solely evolve us into a multi-dimensional personality but imparts us the opportunity to know our fellow mates closely. The society comprises various genders and while growing up in solidarity, we get to know they are no different and find our sense of belongingness with them.

In conclusion, whether girls-only colleges are necessary or another way to shackle young women ultimately depends on how they are implemented and the intentions behind their establishment. While they can offer a supportive environment for young women to learn and grow, it is also essential to ensure that they do not limit opportunities for female students and reinforce gender ">stereotypes. Ultimately, the goal should be to create inclusive and supportive learning environments that empower all students to succeed.

The views expressed by the author are their own. 

Suggested Reading: Co-education Doesn’t Mean A Free Pass For Male Gaze, Schools Are Places For Learning