Although the first Student Representative Council of 1909 boasted three female members, the first female chairperson, Irma du Plessis, was only elected in 1995. Before the election of new members in 1970 a call was made for more women to be elected to the SRC, as “ladies are a great asset at receptions and other meetings, because we know that a lady can often achieve certain things that a man just cannot”, such as “arranging flowers and making tea”!
The first academic course specifically aimed at female students was Domestic Science as it would “prepare them to be good wives and mothers”. The subjects included Laundry and Housewifery; Household Management and also
Chemistry, even though it was unusual for female students to take such a difficult subject.
The perception that most female students came to university to study “man-vang” (how to catch a husband), started to change by the late 1960s. A column specifically aimed at female students made its appearance in Die Perdeby
(PDBY), and the female students’ position on campus was openly discussed for the first time. In one article, female students were reminded that it was assumed that they were fairly intelligent since they made it to university and that they are here to study after all. Although they all knew that no man wanted a “female Einstein” at his side, they were
encouraged to broaden their general knowledge as it was impossible to have a proper conversation with someone who had no knowledge apart from life in the residence and the length of her skirt. The student newspaper therefore suggested that in order to “develop their brain”, they could take up chess and force themselves to read the sport pages at least once a week and while at it, they could also take a glimpse at the business section. A new all-female club, the “Tukkies Chat Club” was founded to teach ladies good communication skills, including how to fulfil the role of a guest speaker at functions.
Despite these past perceptions, the University can boast female alumni who achieved the top of their chosen fields. The first alumna to be appointed as professor at the University was Margaretha Mes. After obtaining a BSc undergraduate degree in 1923, she completed her postgraduate studies in the Netherlands and at Berkeley University, California. In 1930 she travelled to far flung places, such as China to do research before returning to the University as Head of the Botany Department.
The perception that most female students came to university to study “man-vang” (how to catch a husband), started to change by the late 1960s. A column specifically aimed at female students made its appearance in Die Perdeby
(PDBY), and the female students’ position on campus was openly discussed for the first time. In one article, female students were reminded that it was assumed that they were fairly intelligent since they made it to university and that they are here to study after all. Although they all knew that no man wanted a “female Einstein” at his side, they were
encouraged to broaden their general knowledge as it was impossible to have a proper conversation with someone who had no knowledge apart from life in the residence and the length of her skirt. The student newspaper therefore suggested that in order to “develop their brain”, they could take up chess and force themselves to read the sport pages at least once a week and while at it, they could also take a glimpse at the business section. A new all-female club, the “Tukkies Chat Club” was founded to teach ladies good communication skills, including how to fulfil the role of a guest speaker at functions.
The preservation of the female students’ good reputation whilst staying in a University residence was a matter not taken lightly by the University authorities. When the TUC opened its doors in 1908, the female students were housed in private houses under the watchful eye of a lady warden, Miss Alice Acutt, who was known for her old-fashioned views on behaviour and deportment. The already strict rules that governed the female students’ lives became even stricter when a private residence for male students opened close by. When the male residence was moved to the main campus in 1914, the female students still had to contend with private accommodation several blocks away from campus. The high rental cost forced the University authorities to consider a residence closer by and in 1926 the first residence for female students was built, but still off campus. Even in the 1960s and 1970s the rules in the female residences were very strict. Curfews were strictly enforced and the receiving of male visitors was only allowed in designated “visiting booths”, which could be openly viewed at the front door of the residence. Although the observation was made tongue in cheek, male students considered it easier to “abduct” the Wits Rag Queen from her parents’ house than their own Rag Queen as the latter was housed in an “impenetrable fortress”, namely one of the
ladies residences.
Although the Rag Queen tradition was scrapped by the first female ViceChancellor and Principal, Prof Cheryl de
la Rey, former female UP students have used their Miss South Africa titles to champion different causes. Shudufhadzo Musida, Miss South Africa 2020 used the pageant platform to highlight mental health and the economic empowerment of women and children, whereas her successor Lalela Mswane championed the #BeReady campaign to address youth unemployment in South Africa.
Women @ UP Questions
1. I am at the cutting edge of botanical research and gender equality.
2. I was likened to Alcatraz; not to keep ‘asters’ in, but to keep others out. Talk about the elephant in the room, but do not forget my name.
3. The beauty of me is that I was local, national and international.
4. Although my aim was to educate future home-makers, my first head of department broke the glass ceiling.
5. Making women better at what they are already good at. This degree they could “cum”. Yada yada.
Prizes
1x Cash prize of R10 000.00 sponsored by PDBY
and UP Archives
1x Coffee Buzz voucher for a free cup of coffee a day
for a month
3 x Konica Minolta printing vouchers valued at
R500.00 each
1x case of energy drinks from Coffee Buzz
1x UP Campus shop voucher to the value of R500.00
10 X Aroma coffee vouchers
For more clues please visit the UP Archive’s website:
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Submission:
Please submit entries via email to:
archives@up.ac.za
Please include your: name, surname,
student/ personnel number, Degree /
Faculty / Support Service department and
contact details.
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person.
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please visit:
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