Carmen África Vidal Claramonte

Among the participants in this study, gender did not influence their college enrollment decision. When it came to attending college, there was no question about it.

Education was the only option; it seemed to be a priority for all of the participants and their families, regardless of the type of education or the name of the college. Participants in the study were looking to attend colleges for different reasons, such as cultural

pressure, growth, better opportunities, having a good career, being more independent, and experiencing things that challenged their beliefs and gender. Some of the participants’

insights were as follows:

No. I always had in mind that I was going to go to college (110).

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No. It is not really a factor. It is more academic, based on whether I liked the campus . . . I’m sure by the time I’m done with my college years I would have experienced many things that challenge my beliefs or my gender (109).

No, I don’t feel like I attended college primarily because I’m a girl. I attended college because I want to have a good career (101).

No, my gender did not influence my college enrollment (121).

It did not affect anything at all. I’m an independent female and I know how to think for myself. Gender did not influence my college choice at all (103).

No. I just feel at this day and age if men and women are not looked at equally, then it will be soon enough. I just don’t think it matters (113).

No, I don’t believe me being a male decided my fate. I strictly looked at colleges according to what would best suit my major (122).

No, not really. I don’t see any difference in being a female attending college (108, 124).

No I do not. I did not think it would make a difference. It does not matter . . . male or female. If I was going to dorm . . . I did not really think of that, but I would not have gone to a faraway college because I would not have wanted to dorm; that is just personal (107).

In this university? That is a tough question; I do not think so. Because it was financial aid. I mean I cannot think of it. If I was a female, where would I apply to? Actually, maybe it would be better to go here because it is closer. But because I am a male, did I choose this college because of this? No I don’t think so. I made it clear to other colleges that I wanted to stay close (114).

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Others had a different opinion on the gender issue through the lenses of cultural values and perspectives. One student who reflected on this topic stated the following:

Yes, because my mom, ever since I was young, she always instilled in me the importance of having a degree, having an education as a woman. She said do not ever feel like you can’t do whatever you want to do. She just always wanted me to have a backup in life and never feel like if, God forbid, something were to arise, I would not know what to do or where to go. So for me education is always important (119).

Another participant indicated the following:

As a Muslim and an Arab person, usually society puts pressure more on males to become better and better in their life. If you really want to avoid criticism in the future. People keep saying, you are the man; you have to do something. It is a strong factor that influenced me, as a male, to do more than I do (102).

Other participants responded as follows:

Being an Arab and female, there are some positions out there that aren’t really meant for women (118).

Not really. Just as the man of the house, you know you need to be educated to take care of the family. Without education, you will not be able to do that (104).

Gender did not influence my decision. I do not think if I was a guy I would go to another school. Basically, I am coming to school for higher education and better job opportunities. I did apply for some jobs, but they would not hire me, giving many excuses. I decided to come to college. If not having a college degree did not work out, hopefully having a college degree will work out (116).

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A few informants shared their experiences on this issue. Parents had no

reservation about females going to college. Some students mentioned that their parents, due to cultural values, are against their attending colleges away from home or dorming on campus.

It made a big difference because culturally it is harder for a female to dorm. My brother fought to dorm at his university. My parents were against it. So my options were limited coming out of high school (106).

Another participant mentioned that dorming was a key factor in her choice, not gender. “Being a female did not influence my enrollment decision; the only thing that I knew I could not do is to dorm. I don’t feel comfortable dorming, and my parents will not let me. That’s why I drive 50 minutes to college” (115).

Along the same lines, another student stated the following:

Yes, I feel that being a female did influence my decision regarding the choice of college. As a Muslim/Palestinian female, my parents had more restrictions as to how far it is and whether I would have to dorm or travel. A college more than an hour commute would probably be out of the question. I also believe I should correct myself; as an "Arab," I had more restrictions. I believe culture has more of an effect than religion does because nowhere does it say it’s haram to dorm or it’s haram to travel for school. Culture plays more of a role because questions such as

“What will people say about us letting our daughter dorm or travel and she is not married?” or something like, “You are a girl and a girl only sleeps elsewhere when she is married” (117).