Taking Women Seriously
Over the past 25 years, research findings have continued to underscore the direct and positive impact of women's colleges--institutions where the academic aspirations of women are the focus of the entire education community. Taking Women Seriously identifies the distinctive characteristics that make these colleges preeminent contributors of achieving women to the wider society. The authors also explain how the lessons and legacies of these institutions have the potential to enhance the education environment at all colleges. Lessons learned from a legacy of successThe book is divided into four parts plus additional resources. In the first part, the authors provide a historical overview of higher education for women over the past 40 years. Next, they present a summary of significant findings on "what works for women," based on formal research conducted by scholars from a variety of disciplines. In the third section of the book, the authors present "legacies" from effective women's colleges that can serve as models for other institutions in the higher education community. The fourth part is an interconnected summary embracing context, lessons and legacies. The additional resources include a chapter on global issues, and four chapters on the research methodologies used for the studies described in the book. The text is also enhanced with numerous tables and figures, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index.This new work offers insights to all who have a stake in the higher education of women. Beyond that, it shows the way for educators in all settings to become key contributors to the development and functioning of an equitable and humane society. |
