Fortunate Sons and Daughters

Chapter 6 examines the effectiveness of federal financial aid policies in expanding women’s access to higher education and the social and economic building blocks of full citizenship. While the GI Bill significantly expanded men’s access to college, it offered very little support for women interested in pursuing college degrees. Subsequently enacted financial aid programs promoted greater gender equality in socioeconomic status by increasing the probability that women would attain advanced levels of education. By making college more affordable, increasing the amount of time that students can devote to academic work, and promoting undergraduate degree completion, student financial aid programs constitute central mechanisms by which US lawmakers have supported equal social citizenship for women and men. By significantly increasing women’s access to college degrees and the social and economic benefits that are associated with higher education, landmark higher education policies have supported women’s full incorporation into American society.