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Life in Newnham
I've had at least six PMs now asking what I make of life in an all girls college, it's obviously something people are concerned about so I thought I'd make a thread about it.
It's is mainly about Newnham, but I'm sure at least some of it will also apply to New Hall. Ask anything, and I (with the help of the other Newnham lot I hope!) can do our best to help! I'll try and keep this first post about the single sex aspect of Newham, this seems to be most important thing about my college to other people, but it comes far lower on my own list of important things to know about Newnham!
Firstly, I think it would be so sad to hear people would re-consider Cambridge simply because they've been pooled to a single sex college without being informed enough to make a rational decision. Cambridge isn't for everyone and I can actually understand why people would rather go elsewhere, but don't let the fact you don't have boys living next door be the deciding factor! It's not the big deal it's made out to be, men wander as freely as other female non-Newnham-members, after a certain time all visitors need a reason to wander around on their own, I think I'm right in saying this is true of all colleges. Men can't matriculate, but they are not banned, we have male staff working at Newnham just like any other college, boyfriends or just male friends or relatives are all welcome to stay. It's normal to see blokes wandering around, they are not a rareity!
Cambridge has lots of blokes, the courses are mixed so lectures, practicals and even some supervisions (2 of my 4) are all mixed. Besides, supervisions are in such small groups usually that even at a mixed college it's just as likely to be single sexed. The city is also mixed, I spend just as much if not more time out of college as I do in. Societies are a great way to meet people, but even if you don't get involved in much uni wide stuff you will still have male friends! I'm a quiet and shy person generally, but had no problems finding male mates.
People seem to think there are lots of 'butch lesbians' or 'angry feminists' in Newnham, like any other college sexuality is really not something that matters to people. We have probably more than average lesbians, but I think that's more the result of probability than anything else! Newnham won't make you a lesbian, but if you are then they will be very accepting. As for feminism, I don't think this is as big as it once was, people only claim equal rights for women, not special treatment. I keep being told I'm being encouraged more than if I were at a mixed college (point of opinion), the education of women is why Newnham exists so it's obviously important that everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential.
I've personally made some excellent friends in college, really lovely people, who I wouldn't change for anything. Strong friendships were made quickly both in and out of college, I think there is at least some truth in saying that this is in part down to being at Newnham.
I really love my college, most people find they love their colleges whether they applied there or not, it would be very very hard (impossible maybe) to convince me to change colleges now, my friends that were pooled to Newnham would also say the same, some I'm sure love it more...verging on obsessively.
Well that's long enough for now, I can quite happily write more if needed. That really only covers a small section of life at Newnham, it makes the single sex aspect out to be a big deal, but it really isn't!
This is obviously only my take on it, everyones' experiences will be different.
Bit about me to understand my perspective (please don't stalk me!
)...I applied to Newnham, I'm a first year archaeology & anthropology student, I live in the lovely Clough building, I'm straight, I'm quite heavily involved in college life including the boat club, vice president of the fair trade society, and take part in/help out at college events, I'm also involved with uni/city wide stuff including CUSAGC, helping at a Brownie pack and the Archaeological Field Club. I've always been in mixed education and have probably equal numbers of male and female friends.
It's is mainly about Newnham, but I'm sure at least some of it will also apply to New Hall. Ask anything, and I (with the help of the other Newnham lot I hope!) can do our best to help! I'll try and keep this first post about the single sex aspect of Newham, this seems to be most important thing about my college to other people, but it comes far lower on my own list of important things to know about Newnham!
Firstly, I think it would be so sad to hear people would re-consider Cambridge simply because they've been pooled to a single sex college without being informed enough to make a rational decision. Cambridge isn't for everyone and I can actually understand why people would rather go elsewhere, but don't let the fact you don't have boys living next door be the deciding factor! It's not the big deal it's made out to be, men wander as freely as other female non-Newnham-members, after a certain time all visitors need a reason to wander around on their own, I think I'm right in saying this is true of all colleges. Men can't matriculate, but they are not banned, we have male staff working at Newnham just like any other college, boyfriends or just male friends or relatives are all welcome to stay. It's normal to see blokes wandering around, they are not a rareity!
Cambridge has lots of blokes, the courses are mixed so lectures, practicals and even some supervisions (2 of my 4) are all mixed. Besides, supervisions are in such small groups usually that even at a mixed college it's just as likely to be single sexed. The city is also mixed, I spend just as much if not more time out of college as I do in. Societies are a great way to meet people, but even if you don't get involved in much uni wide stuff you will still have male friends! I'm a quiet and shy person generally, but had no problems finding male mates.
People seem to think there are lots of 'butch lesbians' or 'angry feminists' in Newnham, like any other college sexuality is really not something that matters to people. We have probably more than average lesbians, but I think that's more the result of probability than anything else! Newnham won't make you a lesbian, but if you are then they will be very accepting. As for feminism, I don't think this is as big as it once was, people only claim equal rights for women, not special treatment. I keep being told I'm being encouraged more than if I were at a mixed college (point of opinion), the education of women is why Newnham exists so it's obviously important that everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential.
I've personally made some excellent friends in college, really lovely people, who I wouldn't change for anything. Strong friendships were made quickly both in and out of college, I think there is at least some truth in saying that this is in part down to being at Newnham.
I really love my college, most people find they love their colleges whether they applied there or not, it would be very very hard (impossible maybe) to convince me to change colleges now, my friends that were pooled to Newnham would also say the same, some I'm sure love it more...verging on obsessively.
Well that's long enough for now, I can quite happily write more if needed. That really only covers a small section of life at Newnham, it makes the single sex aspect out to be a big deal, but it really isn't!
This is obviously only my take on it, everyones' experiences will be different.
Bit about me to understand my perspective (please don't stalk me!
)...I applied to Newnham, I'm a first year archaeology & anthropology student, I live in the lovely Clough building, I'm straight, I'm quite heavily involved in college life including the boat club, vice president of the fair trade society, and take part in/help out at college events, I'm also involved with uni/city wide stuff including CUSAGC, helping at a Brownie pack and the Archaeological Field Club. I've always been in mixed education and have probably equal numbers of male and female friends.Scroll to see replies
Katie J
As for feminism, I don't think this is as big as it once was, people only claim equal rights for women, not special treatment.
Feminism traditionally never askeed for "special treatment" and in fact the battles of second wave feminism in the 70s were a demand for economic equality. There were also extremely sensible demands for treating women equally but differently as women etc. The idea of special treatment is a bastardisation of the real issues that the feminists stood for and I know lots of very serious feminists, none of whom demand "special treatment".
MB
musicboy
Feminism traditionally never askeed for "special treatment" and in fact the battles of second wave feminism in the 70s were a demand for economic equality. There were also extremely sensible demands for treating women equally but differently as women etc. The idea of special treatment is a bastardisation of the real issues that the feminists stood for and I know lots of very serious feminists, none of whom demand "special treatment".
MB
MB
feminism does seem to be a loaded term. the feminist movement can be seen as the rationale of the personalisation of services these days. feminism demonstrates that equality of opportunity is not neccesarily a wonderful thing and different opportunities, support and advice must be given to different groups and people. but we divulge from the original topic of conversation
Personally I would love to be going to newnham or any girls college 
musicboy
Feminism traditionally never askeed for "special treatment" and in fact the battles of second wave feminism in the 70s were a demand for economic equality. There were also extremely sensible demands for treating women equally but differently as women etc. The idea of special treatment is a bastardisation of the real issues that the feminists stood for and I know lots of very serious feminists, none of whom demand "special treatment".
MB
MB
Good good
I meant 'it's not as big as it once was' in the view that that is the result of improvement, less of a urgent need for change as there has been in the past.Katie J
Good good I meant 'it's not as big as it once was' in the view that that is the result of improvement, less of a urgent need for change as there has been in the past.
I meant 'it's not as big as it once was' in the view that that is the result of improvement, less of a urgent need for change as there has been in the past.ok, sorry for being a pedant.
MB
I'm so glad you made this thread Katie. I'm surprised that it's such an issue for some people but i guess some just have bad memories of girl's schools and assume it's the same. I went back to my old school on thursday to talk about Oxbridge but all the questions were just about Newnham!! I don't see it that much differently to living in women's halls to be honest, since lots of unis have separate accomodation for men and women.
Random hijacking, but this thread is a really good idea Katie! I've just started to get PMs asking about Medicine at Cambridge, so I think I might do a similar thread later today when I'm back in Cambridge and have nothing better to do 
Girls - if you get pooled to an all-girls' college, go there! Cambridge is what you make of it, whatever college you're at And boys smell, anyway. And don't wash up (take that one from experience 
)
Girls - if you get pooled to an all-girls' college, go there! Cambridge is what you make of it, whatever college you're at
And boys smell, anyway. And don't wash up (take that one from experience )
what i've found is that those who go to all-girls colleges will obviously tend to do more outside of college, to meet more people (i.e boys) this, in my opinion is better than being in a mixed college and not doing much stuff outside of it (i.e me!) because you have a far more interesting experience, and get to know so many more people. i met a third year from newnham a few weeks ago, she absolutely loves the place, she was sceptical when she first went, and felt that her prejudices against the place meant she couldn't enjoy her first year as much, but now she and her friends love it!
notyourpunk
feminism does seem to be a loaded term. the feminist movement can be seen as the rationale of the personalisation of services these days. feminism demonstrates that equality of opportunity is not neccesarily a wonderful thing and different opportunities, support and advice must be given to different groups and people. but we divulge from the original topic of conversation Personally I would love to be going to newnham or any girls college
Personally I would love to be going to newnham or any girls college I think there's a distinction between feminist and anti-male. I can't really say I care either way, as long there's no predjudice involved.
I think there's still a fair few "cambridge myths" surrounding the girl's colleges.
Helenia
And boys smell, anyway.
We don't.
Helenia
And don't wash up (take that one from experience )
)That one is almost true, just because I leave the washing up for two weeks people think I'm not going to do it. I'm actually being efficient and doing as few washes as possible, honest.
On the subtopic of the thread, feminism seems to be regarded in a very odd manner by a lot of the younger generation now and I think the original feminists would be appauled at the attitudes these days when all they were wanting is exactly as described by Jacob.
I would suggest that if you are not sure about the college you've been pooled to then you should definitely visit it in a few days when all the students are back and try and get more of a sense of it. That'd go for any college, not just Newnham/Newhall/Lucy Cav.
And Newnham is very pretty.
A.
Helenia
Random hijacking, but this thread is a really good idea Katie! I've just started to get PMs asking about Medicine at Cambridge, so I think I might do a similar thread later today when I'm back in Cambridge and have nothing better to do
Girls - if you get pooled to an all-girls' college, go there! Cambridge is what you make of it, whatever college you're at And boys smell, anyway. And don't wash up (take that one from experience )
Girls - if you get pooled to an all-girls' college, go there! Cambridge is what you make of it, whatever college you're at
And boys smell, anyway. And don't wash up (take that one from experience )and we leave the toilet seat up and have extremely crude conversations. having been in an all boys boarding house trust me you dont want to have too many guys around. some of the games that we played were pretty disgusting.
back on the topic do guys hang around the girls colleges in hte hope of finding a 'nice gal' or is this something that someoe i know made up
Very well said Katie! I applied to Newnham because it seemed to be a beautiful, friendly and supportive place and I have not been let down. Am now in my 2nd year and think of the place really fondly. The plus side of living in a single sex college is that you can lead a really busy life out in the university, academically, socially etc and then come home and just relax in a no-pressure, girly slumber party kind of way.
I have a boyfriend and I attended a mixed school. I wouldn't call myself a feminist in an academic sense, however being a woman at Cambridge definitely highlights the prejudice women still face. Btw, there are 2 main branches of feminism, one that promotes equality for women, the other less common that argues the superiority of women.
I have a boyfriend and I attended a mixed school. I wouldn't call myself a feminist in an academic sense, however being a woman at Cambridge definitely highlights the prejudice women still face. Btw, there are 2 main branches of feminism, one that promotes equality for women, the other less common that argues the superiority of women.
naelse
I'm so glad you made this thread Katie. I'm surprised that it's such an issue for some people but i guess some just have bad memories of girl's schools and assume it's the same. I went back to my old school on thursday to talk about Oxbridge but all the questions were just about Newnham!! I don't see it that much differently to living in women's halls to be honest, since lots of unis have separate accomodation for men and women.
Yeah that's a pretty good description really, I've been trying to explain the college system to people all holiday, they don't understand how I'm at uni but also at a college, they seem to assume I'm at a FE college because of my odd course! I've been explaining it like a school form group, you register there and have admin sorted by them and have to be part of it to be part of the school but all the teaching and the rest of life happens in other groups separate from the form group.
College life is what you make of it, if you wanted you could keep your activities strictly within college (not easy but possible I guess) but you can also make no more of it than a place to sleep and organise supervisions. Personally I have quite an active college life as well as a very active life seperate from college, with little difficulty at all. Piyra's not alone in saying that, I have a friend at Kings (Helenia you might know who I mean) who is really hating her college because she can't convince people it's worth leaving their bar and doing something!
I'm told control of the TVs are a big bonus of life at Newnham!
I've heard Newnham refered to as the 'girlfriend shop' but not yet seen any evidence of this, but then if guys were wandering in hope they may be quite subtle about it!
My male friends here at home seem pretty keen to come and stay. notyourpunk
and we leave the toilet seat up and have extremely crude conversations. having been in an all boys boarding house trust me you dont want to have too many guys around. some of the games that we played were pretty disgusting.
back on the topic do guys hang around the girls colleges in hte hope of finding a 'nice gal' or is this something that someoe i know made up
back on the topic do guys hang around the girls colleges in hte hope of finding a 'nice gal' or is this something that someoe i know made up
Well, I went to boarding school, and though I didn't spend that much time in the boys' houses (they always came to visit us!) I know what went on there. And yes, they did play the soggy biscuit game, but I only found this out in December at a reunion dinner. Why did they need to tell us now when they'd managed to keep it quiet all that time?
I live in a mixed staircase now and I love it, the people I'm with are great, but yeah, there are washing-up related issues. I have a special mug cleaning brush to go in the sink now though, so hopefully that'll help. It does look strangely phallic though.
As for using the girls' colleges as a girlfriend shop, I don't know, but if it is true then I disapprove - there are plenty of fantastically brilliant girls at the mixed colleges *cough, cough* so don't sod off to Newnham just because you think they'll be desperate - they're not! (That or their butch lesbians will get you
)Katie J
I've always been in mixed education and have probably equal numbers of male and female friends.
Just out of curiosity, are those who apply to Newnham more often from mixed schools or from single-sex schools? It's just that I'd have thought that most from single-sex schools would be keen to change their environment (but perhaps not! I don't really know), but on the other most from mixed schools would be unlikely to consider a change to single-sex.
Helenia
And yes, they did play the soggy biscuit game, but I only found this out in December at a reunion dinner. Why did they need to tell us now when they'd managed to keep it quiet all that time?
Awww, I don't understand why people play that, it's plain wrong!
I could barely keep a straight face for an entire supervision once when just before it I found out one of the supervision partners had played it (but not lost).
A.
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