Question: According to the counsellor at Susanna's school, she is the only student who isn't going to college. In the 1960s, wasn't it still common for female students not to attend college? And also young men who came from low-income families? Surely Susanna would not be the only one.
raywest
17th Nov 2024
Answer: In that era, college was less common for middle-class females and also males. However, the movie is based on author Susanna Kaysen's memoir. She was raised in an affluent, well-educated New England family and attended private schools. Girls from upper-class society generally attended college. Many attended a women's Ivy League school like Smith, Radcliffe, Wellesley, etc. A prevailing joke was that girls attended college for the "MRS" degree, meaning to find a husband. It was also typical that prominent professional men had educated, refined wives.
raywest ★