Pregnant Sorority Member

[GreekGirley]

Would you say the same about the image of the chapter if this were not an isolated incident? ...Say what if there were more than 1 pregnant co-ed presently in the chapter. Would that change your opinion of the particular sorority's image?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by GreekGirley

Would you say the same about the image of the chapter if this were not an isolated incident? ...Say what if there were more than 1 pregnant co-ed presently in the chapter. Would that change your opinion of the particular sorority's image?

What, like a pregnancy pact?

And yeah, co-ed is a word from either 1) 1950 or 2)p0rn.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 33girl

And yeah, co-ed is a word from either 1) 1950 or 2)p0rn.

Not only that. Use of co-ed as a noun sometimes occurs for the following reasons:

(1) The speaker may have extensive knowledge and experience with both single-sex and co-ed institutions which leads them to distinguish between whether a student is co-ed or not. I (and others) definitely find some differences in how students across mixed-sex institutions and across single-sex instutitions (in general) behave both inside and outside of the classroom.

(2) Co-ed as a noun is used in reference to women much more than men (you will sometimes hear people say "co-eds" in reference to all students at a mixed-sex institution) because men are not the ones who were initially excluded from these colleges and universities. Women are. History doesn't mysteriously disappear especially considering how some mixed-sex institutions were single-sex (for whatever reasons) a little more than a generation ago.

(3) Although women are said to outnumber men in many mixed-sex colleges and universities today, there remains over 50 women's colleges and over 50 men's colleges in the U.S., with a few more men's colleges than women's colleges.

(4) Even with (3), when traveling, attending conferences with college students, and so forth, people are much more likely to encounter women who attend a woman's college than they are to encounter a man who attends a man's college. But you are much more likely to encounter a college student who attends a mixed-sex college or university--many of which were once single-sex.

That is context. Point being, some people are offended by the use of co-ed as a noun but some people either are not offended or do not care either way. If co-ed as a noun sounds outdated or p0rn to some people, that is completely fine. But, those who occasionally use it do not have to stop using it because of that. At the same time, those who occasionally use it can spare themselves the constant sermons by using co-ed as a noun around those who understand the context in which it is being used.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Not only that. Use of co-ed as a noun sometimes occurs for the following reasons:

(1) The speaker may have extensive knowledge and experience with both single-sex and co-ed institutions which leads them to distinguish between whether a student is co-ed or not. I (and others) definitely find some differences in how students across mixed-sex institutions and across single-sex instutitions (in general) behave both inside and outside of the classroom.

(2) Co-ed as a noun is used in reference to women much more than men (you will sometimes hear people say "co-eds" in reference to all students at a mixed-sex institution) because men are not the ones who were initially excluded from these colleges and universities. Women are. History doesn't mysteriously disappear especially considering how some mixed-sex institutions were single-sex (for whatever reasons) a little more than a generation ago.

(3) Although women are said to outnumber men in many mixed-sex colleges and universities today, there remains over 50 women's colleges and over 50 men's colleges in the U.S., with a few more men's colleges than women's colleges.

(4) Even with (3), when traveling, attending conferences with college students, and so forth, people are much more likely to encounter women who attend a woman's college than they are to encounter a man who attends a man's college. But you are much more likely to encounter a college student who attends a mixed-sex college or university--many of which were once single-sex.

That is context. Point being, some people are offended by the use of co-ed as a noun but some people either are not offended or do not care either way. If co-ed as a noun sounds outdated or p0rn to some people, that is completely fine. But, those who occasionally use it do not have to stop using it because of that. At the same time, those who occasionally use it can spare themselves the constant sermons by using co-ed as a noun around those who understand the context in which it is being used.

1) That would make sense if both men and women were called co-eds, but they're not.
2) I have literally never heard someone use co-ed as a noun to refer to a male student. I think you're really begging the question here though. Removal of the noun co-ed from vocabularies isn't an attempt to erase or ignore a history of sexism.
3)Both single sex and co-ed colleges exist, I agree. But I don't see the connection here.
4) Again, presuming the stats back that up, I'd agree. But I don't see the relevance.

However, looking at 33girl's post and yours, and even looking at mine and yours, I don't see a sermon coming from anyone on the anti-"co-ed" side of the fence. Even taking into account the fact that you and I have discussed the matter before on here. If you're receiving sermons from other places and people, then perhaps it's a hint, or a sign, or at least a suggestion to do what you yourself mentioned, use it only in the context where everyone will agree to its usefulness.

It may indeed have been a really useful usage of the word in the past, I really can't speak to that. But I can say that outside of your use, and the troll's I have only heard it in relation to porn (or quasi-porn - GGW and such) or from the elderly.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

1) That would make sense if both men and women were called co-eds, but they're not.

Originally Posted by Drolefille

2) I have literally never heard someone use co-ed as a noun to refer to a male student.

I understand if you have never heard that use. Since you can't walk through life with me, I'll just give an Internet-based example:

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/U-of-C-to-Let-Male-Female-Students-Sleep-Together.html

If this attempt at sexual connotation makes coed as a noun still offensive, that still isn't the same as the claim that coed is only/100%/always/with no exceptions used for women.

And since I was in a blessed Seder all evening....

An article in The Jewish Advocate titled "Muslim and Jewish Coeds Under Sukkah;" and an article in Jewish Exponent titled "Israel Trip Preps Coeds for Advocacy" These articles are not only talking about female college students.

I have access through JSTOR but excerpts:

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-204134537.html

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-105675729.html

Originally Posted by Drolefille

If you're receiving sermons from other places and people...

That was figurative.

Originally Posted by naraht

50 men's colleges? As best as I can tell, only if you are including Roman Catholic Seminaries and Rabbinical Schools.

"Over 50." Correct, there are more women's liberal arts colleges than men's liberal arts colleges (which could also contribute to some people thinking of women at co-education institutions as "coeds" in the 21st century). All-male is all-male regardless of whether they are religious or non-religious institutions. For the record, there are actually less than 50 women's colleges if only considering 4-year liberal arts.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I understand if you have never heard that use. Since you can't walk through life with me, I'll just give an Internet-based example:

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/U-of-C-to-Let-Male-Female-Students-Sleep-Together.html

If this attempt at sexual connotation makes coed as a noun still offensive, that still isn't the same as the claim that coed is only/100%/always/with no exceptions used for women.

And since I was in a blessed Seder all evening....

An article in The Jewish Advocate titled "Muslim and Jewish Coeds Under Sukkah;" and an article in Jewish Exponent titled "Israel Trip Preps Coeds for Advocacy" These articles are not only talking about female college students.

Interesting, although not necessarily representative of the spoken/written use by the average individual, as headlines are written to different standards. So, now I've seen it twice (not reading through jstor atm). However, beyond "saving space" there's no actual need to use that word here, whether it's offensive or not.

That was figurative.

Well, fair enough, take my response figuratively then.

"Over 50." Correct, there are more women's liberal arts colleges than men's liberal arts colleges (which could also contribute to some people thinking of women at co-education institutions as "coeds" in the 21st century). All-male is all-male regardless of whether they are religious or non-religious institutions. For the record, there are actually less than 50 women's colleges if only considering 4-year liberal arts.

[/QUOTE]
Including seminaries doesn't really make sense in your comparison if only because enrollment wise, they're probably irrelevant and many are unaccredited. But ok, if you insist. Wiki says over sixty women's colleges, primarily liberal arts. I think this is an apples to oranges comparison.

Now if you want to point out the sexism inherent in many religious sects, looking at the seminaries - primarily RCC or Jewish per wiki - makes sense.

They're a reflection of the religious beliefs of that group rather than a reflection of the access to education for women as a whole. Sects that allow women preachers/pastors/priests/rabbis have already integrated their seminaries, assuming they have any. Now sure, historically, it's the same sexism at the root of it all, but it's overbroadening the discussion.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

So, now I've seen it twice....

As long as you can no longer claim that you've never heard of it.

And I can't claim that I've never heard of "coed as a noun" being used in an offensive context or people being offended by it. That's despite the fact that people in my real life professional and personal encounters (feminists included) use "coed as a noun" for the reasons I discussed earlier, and also to discuss both men and women, without negative connotation.

/so let it be written, so let it be done

Originally Posted by Drolefille

But ok, if you insist.

Correct. The purpose and perceived utility behind uni-sex institutions is the same regardless of people's opinions of their religious or non-religious foundations; accreditation or non-accreditation; relevance; and size of student population.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

(3) Although women are said to outnumber men in many mixed-sex colleges and universities today, there remains over 50 women's colleges and over 50 men's colleges in the U.S., with a few more men's colleges than women's colleges.

50 men's colleges? As best as I can tell, only if you are including Roman Catholic Seminaries and Rabbinical Schools. According to Wikipedia... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s..._United_States)

"As of December 2008, there were three non-religious institutions in the United States that were most commonly recognized as four-year men's colleges. These are:
Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, Virginia
Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia
Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana"

Randy