You ain't girls anymore: the Yale Woman emerges

By Lillian Lee Kim

I expected to change when I came to Yale. Since I would be living apart from my parents, I expected to grow up and to become more open-minded because I would be part of a diverse community. Older friends predicted that I would become more conscious of being Asian and being a Southerner, and that I would learn about myself through my experiences in a completely different environment.

These things all happened. But I never thought that being a woman would figure so strongly in the way I define myself. My womanhood affects every aspect of my personality: my intellectual and emotional maturity, my ethnicity and my geographical origins, and my sense of who I am outside my family and away from my friends back home.

At Yale, my female friends and I have made the transition from being "girls" to being "women," and we have enjoyed the respect that has accompanied this development. There is no single female perspective; as with any large group of people, women represent a myriad of opinions, political stances, and needs. It would be ridiculous to pretend to understand them all.

Women at Yale are respected and supported in the expression of their beliefs. Though not all are ardent feminists, I respect those who are. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual, and transgender causes find support as well.

At Yale, the Women's Studies program and the Women's Center provide a forum for all people to explore and express their views through a variety of resources including lectures, events, discussions, and classes.

The Women's Studies program, which has only been a part of the Yale curriculum for the past 18 years, is open to all students and is a good complement to any academic track. The interdisciplinary curriculum offers classes in everything from women's health to the historical role of gender in theater. Male students feel that women's studies courses are open to them too--plenty of men take and enjoy these classes.

Similarly, Yale's Women's Center, which celebrates its 27th anniversary this November, welcomes both women and men to a variety of events. Located in Durfee Hall, the Center provides space for various organizations such as BiWays, a weekly discussion group for women of all sexual orientations, and Aurora, a feminist literary magazine at Yale. The Center also promotes education and outreach in New Haven.

One assumes that female students have always found an atmosphere of equality and mutual respect at Yale. Remember, however, that Yale College has only been co-educational since 1969. Nina Glickson, DC '73, special assistant to President Richard Levin, GRD '74, was a member of Yale's first co-educational class. She recalls a sense of "tremendous excitement" among the freshwomen, but says that Yale had been "ill-prepared" for their entrance. Many women found themselves in classrooms where they were the lone female, and "many of us felt that we did not have enough women friends," Glickson said.

Women at Yale have come a long way in the 28 years since they were first admitted. The class of 1999 actually has more women than men. Unfortunately, even though women are treated with more respect at Yale than at many other universities, discrimination and sexual harassment still exist. Incidents are rare, but women should know that some people may not fully value their opinions and contributions because of their gender.

For Yale women, four years provide a chance for change and growth. Always remember that because you are a woman, you should receive respect; remember too that the relative equality you will experience is the result of the enormous efforts of thousands of women who came before you. But don't forget to enjoy yourself while you're at it.

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