Women at University

 The Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil (Melbourne, Vic. : 1873 - 1889)  Sat 29 Nov 1873  Page 158  SOCIALITIES.

I don't know if the Rev. Canon Dickinson has seriously considered the extraordinary confusion that would result to society if he successfully carried out his effort to have the position of women recognised in our university system. The female equivalent degree for Bachelor would be Maiden of Arts, and for Master, Mistress. But how would it be with a Maiden of Arts when she married? Would she acquire brevet rank by the pleasing examination before the officiating minister, and, by promising and vowing to love, honour, and obey to the satisfaction of the bridegroom and clergyman, raise herself to the position of being able to sit in the Senate of the University, with the title of Mistress? Because, if not, we would have the anomaly of a woman writing Mrs. before her name and Maid after. Again, those who would be likely to pursue their studies so as to gain the higher degrees would be the unmarried. We all know what a distraction matrimony is, and how abstract studies in the sciences and languages are apt to be neglected for the concrete ones of making ends meet; how the differential calculus and Greek plays would be subordinated to the questions of how the clothes of Billy, who has outgrown them, can be made to fit little Tommy, who has just commenced to toddle. The unmarried ladies thus are those who would carry off the honours of the University, and does Mr. Dickinson propose to grant to the Misses who would be left, like the last roses of summer, to blossom into full University degrees the right to 'wear the title of Mistress? Our children — our grandchildren — might get used to it, but it would sadly upset all our old ideas. Then, as to the dresses. I would simply pity any woman who, by legislative enactment, was given the right to wear a peculiar costume if it was becoming. A lady who could visit at Toorak, do Collins-street, or go on the lawn on Cup Day in a becoming dress prohibited to her less cultured sisters, would lead such a life as would make her bitterly repent her ambition. And yet, if women are to be admitted to all the privileges of the University, the distinguishing sash, the dearest of all, must not be omitted.