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I briefly worked with a woman who studied computer science by way of math at Carnegie Tech* in the 1960s. Some of her experiences blew my mind, considering they

I briefly worked with a woman who studied computer science by way of math at Carnegie Tech* in the 1960s. Some of her experiences blew my mind, considering they didn't happen that long ago For example, grad students got priority on the mainframe. No big deal for most undergrads, they could just go in at night to get some computer time. However, the dorm for unmarried women had a curfew, and the young ladies could only leave under the supervision of a male chaperone. My colleague's solution was to ask her male classmates to pretend to take her out on dates. Once a gentleman caller convinced the dorm supervisor that his intentions were honorable, he could check my coworker out from the dorm like a library book, walk her out, and she'd be free to try out the programs she'd been working on during the day. * I might be misremembering the details, but I think she said that women technically weren't allowed to be students of Carnegie Tech, but they could go to a separate CMU women's college (that didn't have CS or engineering majors, but did have math) and cross-register for individual Carnegie Tech classes.

neilv 4y ago
I've heard of schools much more recently having odd/annoying in loco parentis curfews and dorm visit rules for undergrads, but what you described sounds much worse. I'm glad your coworker found ways to succeed despite offensive unfairness like that.
- Maursault 4y ago
  Carnegie Institute of Technology was made up of 4 colleges or schools, the School of Fine and Applied Arts, the School of Apprentices and Journeymen, the School of Science and Technology, and the Margaret Morrison Carnegie School for Women[1]. Carnegie Tech merged with the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research to become Carnegie Mellon University in 1967. Margaret Morrison Carnegie College closed finally in 1973 and merged its programs with CMU. Other schools in Pittsburgh that began with offensive unfairness included Carlow University and Chatham University, but they began to admit men in 1945 and 2015, respectively. You'd really need to examine society historically to understand why all womens' colleges, such as Wellesley, Smith, Vassar, Barnard, and others, were necessary. Seeing universities as sexist ignores the larger picture. Women were only allowed to vote in 1920. That speaks volumes. In 1920, you would not want your daughter going to an all male or even coed school, no matter what opportunities were there. I wouldn't blame the colleges. It's really men that were the problem, and in large part, still remain so, and not for nothing, especially in STEM. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Morrison_Carnegie_College https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Morrison_Carnegie_Col...

neilv 4y ago

I've heard of schools much more recently having odd/annoying in loco parentis curfews and dorm visit rules for undergrads, but what you described sounds much worse. I'm glad your coworker found ways to succeed despite offensive unfairness like that.

Maursault 4y ago
Carnegie Institute of Technology was made up of 4 colleges or schools, the School of Fine and Applied Arts, the School of Apprentices and Journeymen, the School of Science and Technology, and the Margaret Morrison Carnegie School for Women[1]. Carnegie Tech merged with the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research to become Carnegie Mellon University in 1967. Margaret Morrison Carnegie College closed finally in 1973 and merged its programs with CMU. Other schools in Pittsburgh that began with offensive unfairness included Carlow University and Chatham University, but they began to admit men in 1945 and 2015, respectively. You'd really need to examine society historically to understand why all womens' colleges, such as Wellesley, Smith, Vassar, Barnard, and others, were necessary. Seeing universities as sexist ignores the larger picture. Women were only allowed to vote in 1920. That speaks volumes. In 1920, you would not want your daughter going to an all male or even coed school, no matter what opportunities were there. I wouldn't blame the colleges. It's really men that were the problem, and in large part, still remain so, and not for nothing, especially in STEM. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Morrison_Carnegie_College https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Morrison_Carnegie_Col...