Female scholarships are now available to students who identify as women, which includes biological men. It’s worth considering that some top 100 schools, including my graduate university, Texas A&M, began admitting women less than 60 years ago. Many scholarships designed to encourage high school females to advance to higher education are now accessible to biological men.
One of the most well-known high school honor societies, The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS), not only allows biological men to apply for female scholarships but also “strongly encourages” them to apply to a scholarship dedicated to the late female advocate for justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
This scholarship says RBG tirelessly fought for “gender equity” and aims to honor her “blazing legacy.” Ironically, a scholarship designed for women can now be claimed by men, tarnishing the very legacy it seeks to celebrate.
Another scholarship offered by NSHSS, known as the “Future Female Leader Award,” aims to recognize a high school student who has empowered other young women. However, per the NSHSS website, individuals identifying as women, including biological males, can apply.
The scholarship, which allows men to apply, is titled “Female Leader Award,” so it’s worth noting that one’s biological sex can not change. Designations like “female” should ideally be preserved for biologically female individuals. While appearances can be changed, the unchanging biological chromosomal basis defines an individual’s sex as either male or female.
Other notable female scholarships accessible to biological males include the Microsoft STEAM scholarship. As a woman who earned a degree in biochemistry and published research, I was extremely disheartened when I realized these scholarships were now open to men. I recall instances when I was the lone female in my calculus courses.
Men and women possess distinct qualities, and as we blur the societal lines defining females and males, it raises the question: what’s the purpose of commemorating female leaders or STEM majors if those being honored aren’t genuinely women?
By erasing the lines between biological sexes, we see consequences that specifically impact women. Recent events have demonstrated the increased access of biological men to female spaces such as women’s sports, correctional facilities, and designated spaces.
For example, my alma mater California State University at Fullerton, just last year, changed its women’s center into a “reimagined” area catering to “women-identified students.”
Additional examples include instances where women have fallen victim to acts of violence stemming from policies permitting the presence of men within female prisons. Female sports have witnessed cases where women sustained injuries as a result of being compelled to compete against male athletes.
These scenarios underscore the consequences of blurring the lines between biological sex. And the attempt to change the understanding of biological sex has lasting negative implications that disproportionately affect women.
There are various LGBTQ+ awards available. As a heterosexual woman, I can’t apply for these scholarships, nor would I wish to. Consider the uproar that would arise if, as a heterosexual woman, I were to win a trans women award. Such a scenario would involve me claiming a prize not intended for me, potentially undermining its purpose and the recognition it aims to provide.
A survey conducted by Inside Higher Ed revealed that 73% of students had financial difficulties while enrolled in college. Furthermore, a Trellis survey found that one in five students reported facing financial shortages eight times or more in the past year, with a higher frequency among female students, reaching 23%.
Women who pursue education and a career deserve unwavering support and encouragement. Scholarships typically play a pivotal role in a woman’s decision to attend college. Scholarships seeking to honor females should do just that, honor females.