This dissertation is a qualitative study of early 21st century American female college students' experiences of their gender, sexuality, and racial identities, and of institutional politics as their single-sex college transitioned to co-education. It is an ethnography that utilizes feminist theorizing to understand tensions between feminists…

The history of coeducation in U.S. higher education is explored through an analysis of a database containing information on all institutions offering four-year undergraduate degrees that operated in 1897, 1924, 1934, or 1980, most of which still exist today. These data reveal surprises about the timing of coeducation and the reasons for its…

This study examined the founding of the New Jersey College for Women as an exemplary case that illustrates important social and political issues regarding women's access and acceptance to higher education during the Progressive Era. The New Jersey College for Women was founded as a public women's college that was affiliated with the state's…

Offers account of practical and political aspects of maintaining counterpoint, mini-war against coeducation that captured minds and emotions of people and media around the world. Describes story of Mills College and events that followed college's aborted decision to become coeducational. (NB)

Looks at coeducation decisions made by Smith and Amherst Colleges in 1970s, Smith reaffirming its commitment to separate education and Amherst changing from all-male to coeducational college. Describes contrasting bases for the decisions made by the two colleges. (NB)

Describes University of Richmond and Westhampton College, which function in coordinate college model, defending this hybrid. Describes how two cooperating single-sex colleges share joint, common curriculum but maintain somewhat separate identities, as with different faculties, residence halls, student governments, and college traditions. Describes…

Explores the ongoing debate as to whether female students can be better educated in a single or mixed gender environment by reviewing the historical origins of American women's colleges. Discusses the conflicting research surrounding the merit of single gender higher education and explores what coeducational institutions can learn from the women's…

Compared mission statements of 23 women's colleges with women's studies programs, 23 women's colleges without women's studies programs, and 21 coeducational colleges with women's studies programs. Found some consistent qualitative differences between mission statements of women's colleges and those of coeducational institutions with women's…

Student and alumnae groups have mobilized to preserve Wheaton College as one of a dwindling number of single-sex women's institutions and are taking legal action to fight what they believe is a breach of faith. (MSE)

Anticipated and final majors of 1,700 students at 8 women's colleges and 818 female students at 7 coed colleges were analyzed. At women's colleges, 40-70% of the women shifted from female-dominated to neutral or male-dominated majors, compared with only 25% at coed schools. At both types of schools, 22% of women left male-dominated majors. (SK)

No matter what social goals or federal laws exist, it will be a long time before the informal social environment in America's male-dominated colleges and universities will serve women students as well as men, suggests the president of Smith College. Until then "for women only" institutions are needed. (Author/LBH)

Feelings of closeness to professors of 201 students were studied at a women's college, two coed colleges, and a university. Overall, students felt closer to female professors. Students at one coed college felt the greatest closeness to professors of either gender. (SLD)

The role of the women's rights press in reporting on and advancing coeducation in the United States is considered. The women's rights press was linked to the women's rights movement and articulated the goal that women should enjoy full participation in all aspects of U.S. life, including higher education. This analysis is based on 12 of the most…

The role of a women's college is addressed in terms of institutional environment, student motivation, career aspiration, noncurricular activities, counseling and other student services, and breaking sex stereotyping of men as well as women. (LBH)

The early history of physical education for women in the northeastern section of the United States is presented. Short biographies of notable contributors, both men and women, to the expansion of physical education programs, first in womens colleges, and later in coeducational institutions, are presented. (JN)