Women in Two-Year Colleges: a Matter of Access
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Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Educational Policy Studies Dissertations Department of Educational Policy Studies 5-16-2008 Women in Two-Year Colleges: A Matter of Access Kathryn Renee Hornsby Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/eps_diss Part of the Education Commons, and the Education Policy Commons Recommended Citation Hornsby, Kathryn Renee, "Women in Two-Year Colleges: A Matter of Access." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2008. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/eps_diss/19 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Educational Policy Studies at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Educational Policy Studies Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ACCEPTANCE This dissertation, WOMEN IN TWO-YEAR COLLEGES: A MATTER OF ACCESS, by KATHRYN R. HORNSBY, was prepared under the direction of the candidate’s Dissertation Advisory Committee. It is accepted by the committee members in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Education, Georgia State University. The Dissertation Advisory Committee and the student’s Department Chair, as representatives of the faculty, certify that this dissertation has met all standards of excellence and scholarship as determined by the faculty. The Dean of the College of Education concurs. ______________________________ ______________________________ Philo A. Hutcheson, Ph.D. Fred E. Kiehle, Ph.D. Committee Chair Committee Member ______________________________ ______________________________ Phillip Gagne, Ph.D. Dennis H. Thompson, Ph.D. Committee Member Committee Member ______________________________ Date ______________________________ Sheryl A. Gowen, Ph.D. Chair, Department of Educational Policy Studies ______________________________ R. W. Kamphaus, Ph.D. Dean and Distinguished Research Professor College of Education AUTHOR’S STATEMENT By presenting this dissertation as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the advanced degree from Georgia State University, I agree that the library of Georgia State University shall make it available for inspection and circulation in accordance with its regulations governing materials of this type. I agree that permission to quote, to copy from, or to publish this dissertation may be granted by the professor under whose direction it was written, by the College of Education’s director of graduate studies and research, or by me. Such quoting, copying, or publishing must be solely for scholarly purposes and will not involve potential financial gain. It is understood that any copying from or publication of this dissertation which involves potential financial gain will not be allowed without my written permission. ____________________________________ Kathryn R. Hornsby NOTICE TO BORROWERS All dissertations deposited in the Georgia State University library must be used in accordance with the stipulations prescribed by the author in the preceding statement. The author of the dissertation is: Kathryn Renee Hornsby 423 Tuxworth Circle Decatur, GA 30033 The director of this dissertation is: Dr. Philo Allen Hutcheson Department of Educational Policy Studies College of Education Georgia State University Atlanta, GA 30303-3083 VITA Kathryn Renee Hornsby ADDRESS: 423 Tuxworth Circle Decatur, Georgia 30033 EDUCATION: Ph.D. 2008 Georgia State University Educational Policy Studies M.A. 1995 Georgia State University Sociology B.S. 1986 Auburn University Social Studies Education PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 2007-Present Executive Director Accountability and Institutional Effectiveness Georgia Department of Technical & Adult Education, Atlanta, GA 2003-2007 Director Accountability and Institutional Effectiveness Georgia Department of Technical & Adult Education, Atlanta, GA 2000-2003 Manager Accountability and Institutional Effectiveness Georgia Department of Technical & Adult Education, Atlanta, GA 1998-2000 Coordinator, Institutional Effectiveness Georgia Department of Technical & Adult Education, Atlanta, GA 1997-1998 Specialist, Institutional Effectiveness Georgia Department of Technical & Adult Education, Atlanta, GA PRESENTATIONS: April 2005 American Educational Research Association Montreal Women in Two-Year Colleges: A Matter of Access PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AND ORGANIZATIONS: 2000-2008 National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education Consortium 1997-2008 Southeastern Association of Community College Researchers : ABSTRACT WOMEN IN TWO-YEAR COLLEGES: A MATTER OF ACCESS by Kathryn R. Hornsby Community college enrollment doubled during the 1940s and 1950s, but during the 1940s and 1950s, it was not common to compare male and female enrollment patterns. For this study, I disaggregated male and female enrollment information from four editions of American Junior Colleges (1940, 1948, 1952, and 1956) in order to explore the gendered meaning of access in regard to two-year colleges during the 1940s and 1950s. The analysis compared male and female enrollment and graduation in pacesetter states within the community college movement. By using descriptive statistics, I gave voice to a story that previously had been untold – the story of women’s access into one segment of higher education – two-year colleges. In order to provide context for the numbers I compiled, I investigated the literature on women in higher education in the post-World War II period – a literature almost completely focused on four-year institutions – to examine the degree to which that literature captured, or failed to capture, meanings of access for women. With the overcrowding in higher education due to the preponderance of veterans returning to colleges and universities immediately following World War II, women were often crowded out of four-year institutions. The two-year college provided a means for many women to enter higher education but did not provide them the same level of access as males. For the most part women had access to programs preparing them for the dual labor market and/or reinforced their status as wife and mother. WOMEN IN TWO-YEAR COLLEGES: A MATTER OF ACCESS by Kathryn R. Hornsby A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Policy Studies in the Department of Educational Policy Studies in the College of Education Georgia State University Atlanta, Georgia 2008 Copyright by Kathryn R. Hornsby 2008 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Three years ago, this project began as an interest in women’s beginning involvement in two-year colleges. I was curious as to the role two-year colleges played during the historic time immediately following World War II. When I shared this idea with Philo Hutcheson my advisor and dissertation chair, he seemed to be equally excited that my research would be providing a voice to a story that had previously been untold. For too long two-year colleges have been second-class citizens in the higher education world and the lack of scholarly research regarding my topic only reemphasizes that fact. By creating a database that I can share with other researchers, I hope to be able to provide a useful tool to explore the history of women’s access into two-year colleges. I appreciate Philo Hutcheson’s continued enthusiasm and direction regarding this project, which was the driving factor in helping me complete my dissertation. Dennis Thompson stepped in and shared his viewpoint on this topic to which I owe much thanks. A special measure of gratitude is extended to Fred Kiehle for his encouragement to begin this process, continued support, and feedback as a member of my dissertation committee. This work would not have been possible without the help of Randy Dean, colleague and friend, who endured many brainstorming sessions, database questions, and still was always willing to help and share his opinions regarding this topic. I will always be grateful for his help. He is worth his weight in gold. Ramona Smedley’s gracious help with fine-tuning my graphs and charts and answering all my countless word processing formatting questions will always be appreciated. Finally, I wish to thank my family and friends who endured seven years of a daughter and friend who spent weekends and nights in the library or working at home on her dissertation. I missed countless family gatherings and I think that this was the ultimate sacrifice made during this process. To Mom, Dad, Steven, Martha, David, Melissa, Margaret, Rilla, Almon, and Heather, I appreciate your love and support during this process. Lastly, thank you Michael for helping me regain my focus and reminding me that there is more to life than work and my dissertation. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures......................................................................................................................v Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................1 Limitations of the Study ...........................................................................5 Educational Importance of the Study........................................................6 2 THE RISE OF THE TWO-YEAR COLLEGE.........................................8 3 WOMEN IN HIGHER EDUCATION