One of our goals as a Committee is to help the College navigate what it means to be a (Historically) Women’s College (“HWC”) within the context of the diversity of gender that exists in the world and within our own student body. As visibility and understanding of gender diversity has increased, especially recognizing gender as something that is neither binary nor static, we must ask what the function and responsibility of the HWC should be. Though Bryn Mawr is a self-proclaimed Women’s College, it is clear that both at present and historically it is a college whose undergraduate students represent a diverse collection of gender identities, both inside and outside of womanhood.
At the Fall 2023 Plenary, the Gender Inclusion Committee proposed and passed a resolution titled “Establishing Gender Inclusive Admissions at Bryn Mawr College.” The resolution, which passed with 84.7% approval from the voting student body, argues for the expansion of Bryn Mawr’s current admissions policy to be inclusive of all transgender identities, functioning under the belief that
- (Historically) Women’s Colleges such as Bryn Mawr serve to provide safe educational spaces for marginalized gender groups underserved or underrepresented in academia, and
- that transgender and nonbinary identities are marginalized gender groups under a patriarchal society and especially given the prevalence of anti-transgender legislation and discrimination worldwide, noting too the increasingly hostile attitudes towards trans youth in U.S. education.
Bryn Mawr College’s mission statement (March 2019) affirms a commitment to “gender equity, and to supporting all students who choose to pursue their studies here.” We believe HWCs such as Bryn Mawr have an inherent responsibility to recognizing and uplifting gender diversity and marginalized gender identities, including transgender ones.
This conversation is not unique to Bryn Mawr, and this goal is shared by others at other institutions including students at our sibling schools, Mount Holyoke College and Wellesley College. Please find additional readings and resources below.