College Girls: Bluestockings, Sex Kittens and Co-eds, Then & Now by Lynn Peril
Proud Daughter: “I have made 100 in algebra, 96 in Latin, 90 in Greek, 88-1/2 in mental philosophy, and 95 in history; are you not satisfied with my record?”
Father: “Yes, indeed, and if your husband happens to know anything about housekeeping, sewing and cooking, I am sure your married life will be very happy.”
I’ve been wanting to read this book for quite a while and I was definitely not disappointed. As someone who grew up in the girl-power-Lilith-fair-empowering-women nineties, I admit that I sometimes forget how far we’ve actually come. This book did well to remind me that not even 40 years ago women were not afforded the luxuries of education that we have today–or, at least, they were constantly reminded that if they chose to attend college for their B.A. they also better be seeking their MRS. (the most important thing to a woman, mind you.) College Girls did a fantastic job of following the college girl through her bluestockings stereotype of the 1860s (where educated women were suspiciously eyed and denounced as destined for spinsterhood) all the way through to the sex kitten stereotype of the 1950s (where her sweater-sets showed off her *ahem* assets as she cared more about getting pinned than getting A’s).
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