A review by pturnbull
A Woman's Education by Jill Ker Conway

4.0

Conway's memoir covers the ten years that she served as the first woman president of Smith College, from 1975-1985. These were tumultuous years in the development of higher education curriculum as well as for women's roles in society. Conway's perceptions about college politics and feminism are insightful. I especially enjoyed her discussions about the experience of being a female leader at a women's college in the mid-70s. Her description of an event at which hundreds of young women pounded on the floor calling for "Jill!" is one example. I marveled at this display of exuberance and self-confidence and lack of concern about being ladylike or behaving in a way that could turn off men. During the same historic period, I was at coeducational public institutions, and this kind of behavior by female students was unfathomable, to the detriment of our development as empowered citizens and future leaders, I believe. This book may have a narrow readership, but it will prove satisfying anyone interested in the recent history of higher education and the development of women's status in society.