Established in 1413, the University of St Andrews did not admit female degree students for its initial 479 years. As a female student at the University of St Andrews, the annual arrival of International Women’s Day prompts reminders that women have only been present at the institution for a fifth of the institution’s lifetime, since 1892. Agnes Blackadder was the first woman to graduate from St Andrews, taking subjects concurrently to finish her honours degree ahead of her cohort. Her success paved the way for subsequent generations of female students, expanding their rights at the university, access to education, and future opportunities.
The role of former female students, like Blackadder, is a defining factor in current female students’ ability to receive an education without historical constraints. To honour these students and their contributions to our lives, I spoke with graduates from the 1950s and 60s, Penny Johnson and Rosemary Jones. Despite the years that separate their experiences, a mutuality exists between them in the form of shared identity that ties generations of women to one another.
In 1959, Penny Johnston (née Kidston) matriculated at St Andrews. On her first day, she received her roommate by default. Luckily, the match was a success. “I couldn’t have been with a better person. She’s still one of my closest friends.” “It was an extraordinary coincidence; we just sort of enjoyed doing things the same way.” During Johnston’s following three years, she lived within the grounds of ‘hall’ (University Hall), which fostered a strong community of like-minded girls, many of whom she remains close friends with. When asked whether the accommodation was all girls, Johnston replied: “Oh, of course!” as gender segregation was strictly regulated. Despite this, the environment fostered allowed Johnston to thrive. She recalls working and socialising in the hall garden and often going for afternoon swims in the sea during summer. The strong female friendships she was surrounded by were a defining feature in shaping her fond memories.
When discussing first impressions of university life, Johnston said she “didn’t know what to expect.” In conversation about her social life during her first year, she remembered ‘the first ‘hop’ on a Saturday evening. “It was awful because the boys went down one side of the room, and the girls were on the other side. At the beginning of every dance, the boys came on an expedition across to the girls”. Given this division and the fact that many of the female halls were further from the male halls, much of the social life for girls was female-dominated. Johnston fondly recalls ‘sitting around with coffee after supper listening to music’ with girlfriends within the hall.
Furthermore, the Union was considered a major boys’ club: “It was common knowledge that the boys went there to drink,” Johnson says. At this point, the Kate Kennedy Club was active (a club which only began accepting women in 2012), and there was seemingly a lack of a female alternative. How did this deficiency, concurrent with a degree of divide between men and women, affect Johnson and her education? Asking her about this, Johnson relayed that she didn’t feel disadvantaged as a woman during university, but this converged when it came to choosing careers. “we (often) expected less” (than men) and “assumed that we competed with men for certain jobs”. Despite receiving the same university degrees as their male counterparts, during the 50s, gender inequality was significant in the world of work.
In 1963, 10 years after Johnston, Rosemary Jones matriculated at St Andrews. Sharing another experience of a successful room partnership, Jones recalled the bonding experience of spending weeks with her roommate in a freezing cold room where they had to use their red gowns as extra blankets. The two remained close friends and shared many university experiences together. Jones – who was also in University Hall – revealed that men were strictly not allowed except for two afternoons per week, emphasis on ‘afternoon’.
In terms of social life, Jones revealed that coffee dates were a social life staple at St Andrew’s – similar to today – she met with friends two or three times a week in local cafes. Jones recalls that she joined Catholic society during her first year after having formed a close group of girlfriends from lectures. Despite not being Catholic, once a month, members were permitted to attend the Cath Soc Hop! Remembering the incentive to do so, Jones said, “Whatever you paid, they were the only society which gave you a glass of red wine on arrival.” She laughed and said, “I don’t remember them ever preaching at us; it was just pop music once a month.” Hall balls were also a big occasion, with Hamilton, University Hall, and Sallie’s balls being the highlights of the academic year. As a current staple of the St Andrews nightlife, balls have been bringing students together since the early days of the university.
Both women shared in the importance that they placed on their female friendships. For Johnston, her university experience was situated amongst them, and a sense of solidarity amongst the girls fostered a positive experience in which she had the opportunity to grow. Similarly, Jones highlighted the strong female connections that have persisted throughout her life. Both women came to the same conclusions about the effects of their female peers on their ability to thrive at St Andrews, both during their time at university and in shaping their lives.
Hearing about these women’s experiences at St Andrews demonstrated the collective gender division and challenges all female students faced at this time. These obstacles underlined the value of women to each other in their shared identity and understanding. Following this conversation, I reflected on my female friendships and the support, love, and community they have provided. This emphasis on the strength of friendships between women has transcended time and remains a crucial part of any female university experience. Ultimately, on International Women’s Day, it is important to acknowledge the women surrounding us and female friendships’ crucial role in shaping our lives.