Gender Identity Debated at Same-Sex Colleges

[Sparkle]

Originally Posted by Thinker

Were there ever conversations/debates about the "intrusion of women's space"?

I can fully and completely understand that argument......why it would be so upsetting. And I can also see where it might not even get more than a few minutes of processing time because others see the individual as a female-to-male transsexual.

Now I'm not one to discount transmen as men. Obviously. But I feel pretty certain that the majority of those "watching" would always view the individual as a female-to-male transsexual, thus lightening (perhaps eliminating?) the feeling of having a man in a space for women.

I don't know how valid any of that is........just me mulling stuff over, really. But I'm a realist when it comes to this stuff, and I feel pretty certain that many would offer that up as an explanation for their "acceptance".

I am sure that some people do feel it is an intrusion in to a 'sacred' woman-only space.
My impression having lived in the area on and off for 15+ years, and having worked on campus is that the majority of people who make that argument are slightly older women on staff.
Obviously, that is not a scientific analysis; it is only my impression.
Students seem mostly unaffected, and on the whole advocate for trans inclusion.

The fact is single-sex colleges are not populated by a single gender only. There are opposite gender: faculty and staff and other students. (male students are allowed to attend as many classes as they like at Smith & Mt. Holyoke for example, but they can not graduate with a degree from either institution).

And the number of trans/gender non-conforming students is very low compared to the rest of the student body.

I don't think we are in a position that anyone feels that the power balance that these schools were created to address is endangered. Women receive a top quality education there; without the gender bias of larger/mixed-gender college and universities. The small group of students we are discussing are not tipping that balance, not by a long shot.

AND I think you are correct about the general perception of gender non-conforming students, I do not think they are considered "men". I think this may have to do with the fact that most typical students at these institutions are young and most begin their physical transition there - and it takes time for physical changes to manifest.

What is *really interesting* to me is that there is precious little discussion of male-to-female transsexual or gender non-conforming people attending/graduating from an all-woman's school.

Both the institutions the article cited deal with students who were admitted to a single-sex college as the gender they were born, that gender matching the admission requirements of the college.

When things really get "interesting" and people's boundaries are pushed to breaking is when we discuss a gender non-conforming person who was born the opposite gender than that of the institution they want to attend.