Attending college with all women has probably been the most empowering experience in my life, something I never expected to get from this kind of setup. People always say that in co-ed colleges one would have much more liberty, but for me it's the contrary. It is in such a female-only space that I have been finding myself, through the building of my confidence and my voice. The fiercely independent and strength of will females surrounding me were able to make me understand the depth to which connections are rooted in feminism and sisterhood, as these allowed me to grow intellectually and personally.
One of the biggest liberations of girls' college is the lack of societal pressures and male gaze. In co-education, there always exists an unconscious need to fit into the gendered expectations—whether it's lowering our voices to moderate tone, bending in our behaviors, or thinking a thousand times before giving our opinions and judgment. All these dissolves in an all-girl environment.
With this institution, I have come to realize that I can freely present ideas: be it a bold expression in class or arguing on matters as sensitive as gender equality and feminism. The open classroom environment fostered here allows me to explore deeply complex ideas and engage with critical discussions on the women's cause and the role of feminism in shaping our futures.
This environment also enabled me to connect more personally with feminist principles. Discussing the matters of gender and equality makes it much easier in having these conversations among women who understand and experience firsthand. Whether we are breaking down feminist literature within our class or debating the latest issues on the evening news, there is this collective consciousness that informs our interactions. They really broadened my understanding not only of feminism but also of the way I see the world and my place in it. The academic and personal freedom that I experienced here empowered me to be unapologetically myself and to use my voice for causes that I care about.
Sisterhood here in college is a very significant part of my journey toward freedom for myself. There is a very strong solidarity in the girls-only environment among the students here. We're not in competition for attention or validation; we raise each other and support each other. The bonds formed here extend far beyond a causal connection - they are based on mutual respect and experience. There is this silent understanding that we all have the same thing, and sisterhood has enabled me to be vulnerable, ambitious, and fearless. That sisterhood has motivated me to take up more leadership roles, push myself harder academically and in the areas, I have a passion for.
The inspiration that the different leadership and mentorship opportunities to women in a girls' college brings along is another very inspiring aspect. However, since women are present almost in every student organization, academic initiatives, and cultural activities that I have seen, female leadership has appeared to me as very typical instead of atypical.
Such an environment has shown to me that women can thrive in any sphere of action, whether it is academics, sports, or social causes.
It breaks the stereotype that an all-women’s organization might be bitchy. The more powerful female mentors and role models will make the way smoother, where I feel that I might be encouraged to take on leadership opportunities without that traditional binding norm of what a woman must do or what a woman must not do. More than that, it reminds me that being a feminist means not only fighting for equality but also having fun and finding joy in the empowerment of women to lead and succeed in all aspects of life.
The opportunities for academic freedom and leadership have catapulted me toward personal freedom as well - embracing individuality, there is no pressure to conform to societal standards of beauty or behavior. There's an appreciation for diversities in expression, so it has helped me live a very authentic life without judgment. I learned that freedom is not just breaking external barriers but also freeing those internal ones, and I found this college to be my benching platform for it.
Being in an all women's college in India has set a fire inside of me, a deep and profound sense of freedom and empowerment. The safe environment and bonds created here have helped me to explore my identity, embrace my voice, and get deeper into feminist values. She has cradled and encouraged my intellectual and personal development in independence and ambition to shape the very future in front of me. The realization comes that true freedom is living and learning on one's terms, within the space of women who are equal in vision for a more just and empowering world focusing on the reality of the world of women through women education in India.
(Article inputs by Akansha Rachel Paul who attended Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University)
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