The idea of an all boys school seems to aggravate many people, especially women. When someone looks at an all boys school, they may find it exclusionary to women. However, when someone looks at an all girls school, many see it as empowering or even legendary as it fosters camaraderie. This can be considered a double edged sword, where women are empowered and men are criticized for simply wanting to attend colleges without the distraction of the opposite sex. Recently, an increasing amount of single gender schools have been opening their doors and becoming co-educational institutions as they see that their students will grow even more when exposed to members of the opposite sex.

This “double standard” is actually less complicated than it seems since there really is no difference. An all boys school is not exclusionary to women since there are by far more all woman colleges where they could get an equal level of education. Also, many people believe that all boys colleges will promote the idea that their students do not need to interact with woman on the business level since they are “inferior.” This misunderstanding probably stemmed off the fact that students at all male colleges will most likely not have professional experience working with women unless their school is part of a consortium of other colleges.

“Would I apply to an ‘All boys school?’ No. As an 18-year old boy with 12 siblings, seven brothers and five sisters, I firmly believe that one should be exposed to both sexes. While everyone has their own personalities, interests, and beliefs, it is important for people to coexist with each other,” senior Luchiano Montero said.

In the late 1960’s, Dartmouth was an all-male college, primarily white, with very little students of other minorities. Today, half the undergraduate population is made of women and many students classify themselves as an ethnicity other than white. The Dartmouth campus is not what it was like before. Diversity within gender and ethnicity has enriched the atmosphere at the institution and is now much more welcoming then it once was.

Only four traditional men’s colleges remain in the United States. Many colleges have gone co-ed because from a business standpoint,  it benefits the institution, especially since the female to male ratio has increased on the female side. Also, it is easier for schools to go co-ed to avoid lawsuits. This is why most single gender schools are on the brink of extinction and why some are fighting to keep their schools one single gender.