The College Woman's Handbook Book

CONTENTS

Introduction: How It All Began

PART ONE: ALL THINGS ACADEMIC

The Class System: Courses, Grades, and Profs

Choosing Classes. Requirements: Prescribed Wisdom. Registration. The Big Decision: Choosing a Major. Advisors and Mentors and Profs (Oh My!). Grades. Changing or Contesting a Grade. Activist Ideas.

Burning the Midnight Oil: Getting the Work Done

Make a Game Plan That You Can Stick to. Study Groups. Tips on Tackling Tests. At the Exam. Paper Pleasure. Getting Help. Cheating: Just Don't Do It. Activist Ideas.

Off the Beaten Track: Less Traditional Educational Opportunities

Check Out What Your School Offers. Getting Credit for Work. Creating Your Own Major. Study Abroad. Abroad in the U.S.A. Leaves of Absence. Activist Ideas.

Making the Leap: Transferring and Graduate School

Looking Before You Leap. Figuring Out Where to Apply. Getting the Scoop on Schools. Application Checklist. Making It All Look Good. Recommendations. Filling in the Dots: Standardized Examinations. Eye on Transferring. Grad School Specifics. Trying Again. Activist Ideas. Resources.

PART TWO: MONEY AND HOME

The Financial Aid Maze: Paying for Your Education

What is Financial Aid, Anyhow?. Untying the Package. Getting It Yourself. If Your Need Changes. Parents and Financial Aid. Funding Graduate School. Other Funding Issues. Discrimination. Activist Ideas. Resources.

A Room of Your Own: Housing How-tos

Living on Campus. There's No Place Like Home. Getting Your Own Place. The Nitty Gritty. Moving. The Rent. Sharing a Living Space. Activist Ideas. Resources.

Working Women: Jobs, Internships, and Careers

First Things First. Starting the Hunt. Researching Job Opportunities. Getting Your Foot in the Door. The Resume. The Cover Letter. The Interview. You Got It-Should You Take It?. Protecting Yourself on the Job. Activist Ideas. Resources.

PART THREE: OF SOUND MIND AND BODY

The Big Three: Nutrition, Exercise, and Sleep

Nutrition. A Vitamin and Mineral Primer. Vegetarian and Vegan Diets. Never Say Diet. Exercise: Working in Workouts. Sleep, Precious Sleep. Activist Ideas. Resources.

Staying Healthy: Prevention and Remedies

Preventive Action. When the Bug Bites. Common Maladies. Common Gynecological Disorders. Symptoms and Solutions. Know Your Drugs. Common Medicines. The Road to Recovery. Our Doctors, Ourselves. Complementary/Alternative Medicine. Activist Ideas. Resources.

More Than Just the Blues

Sending out a Stress-O-S. Depression. SAD: Seasonal Affective Disorder. Other Mental Health Disorders. Therapy. Types of Therapy. Problems in Therapy. Activist Ideas. Resources.

Real Vs. Ideal: Body Image, Dieting, and Eating Disorders

What is Body Image? Real and Ideal. College Women and Body Image. "If I Could Lose 10 Pounds, My Life Would Be Perfect. Why Food? Healthy and Unhealthy Eating. Eating Disorders. Getting Treatment. Helping A Friend With an Eating Disorder

Use and Abuse: A Rational Look at Alcohol and Other Drugs

Know What You Ingest: A Drug Lexicon. Learning the Facts, Weighing the Risks. Safer Drug Use. What Constitutes a Drug Problem? Getting Help. Helping a Friend With a Drug or Alcohol Problem. Activist Ideas. Resources.

A Friend in Need: Helping Others Through Rough Times

Women as Caregivers. Helping a Friend Who Wants Help. How to Listen. Giving Referrals. Helping a Friend Who Won't Recognize Her Problem. What to Do in a Crisis. Helping Others While Taking Care of Yourself. Activist Ideas. Resources.

PART FOUR: SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE MATTERS

Know Your Body: A Few Gynecological Basics

The Gynecologist's Office. The Pelvic Exam. Breasts. Breast Self-Exams. Menstruation. "Feminine Protection" Products. Ooh the Pain . . . Dysmnorrhea and PMS. Menstrual Problems. Activist Ideas. Resources.

STDs, HIV and AIDS: Facing the Facts

Transmission of STDs. The Diseases. If You Think You've Got an STD. If You're Diagnosed with an STD. Telling a Partner You Have an STD. What is HIV/AIDS? Transmission. Symptoms-How Do I Know if I Have HIV? Testing for HIV. Treatments, Cure. The Politics of HIV/AIDS. Women and HIV/AIDS. Activist Ideas. Resources.

Contraception and Safer Sex: Playing it Smart in Risky Times

So What Is Contraception, Anyway? Methods of Birth Control. Birth Control Methods That Do Not Work. Safer-Sex Shopping List. Safer Sex at a Glance. Making Safer Sex Fun: Love Your Latex. Laying It on the Line. Activist Ideas. Resources.

If You Get Pregnant: Assessing Your Options

The Pregnancy Basics. Am I Pregnant? Pregnancy Tests. Pregnancy Options. Carrying to Term. Adoption. Abortion. Activist Ideas. Resources.

PART FIVE: FIGHTING BACK

Breaking Down Bias: Prejudice, Harassment, and Discrimination

The Spectrum of Bias. Identifying Discrimination in the Classroom. Sexual Harassment. Deciding What to Do. Before Taking Action. Dealing with Harassment or Bias Informally. Taking Formal Action. Reporting Bias to Authorities Off Campus. Current Laws Affecting Harassment and Discrimination. Activist Ideas. Resources.

Ending the Silence: Violence Against Women

What Forms Can Violence Against Women Take? Sexual Assault. Rape. What Is Consent? What to Do if You've Been Assaulted. Emotional and Psychological Reactions. Reporting and Prosecuting. Activist Ideas. Resources.

Safety First: At Home and on the Go

Home, Sweet Home. Emergencies. Out and About: Safetly in Your Neighborhood. Night Crawlers. Woman-Powered Vehicles. Auto-Nomous Woman. Long-Distance Safety. Activist Ideas. Resources.

PART SIX: DEFINING YOURSELF

Community and Identity: Finding Your Place

Why Now? Exploring Your Identity. Finding a Community: Common Themes of Identity on Campus. Activist Ideas. Resources.

Negotiating Relationships: Family, Friends, and Lovers

Adjusting to the First Few Months of College. Independence Issues. Maintaining Old Friendships. Forging New Friendships. Roommates. The Road to Romance. Exploring Your Sexuality. Communications Issues. Activist Ideas. Resources.

Getting Involved: Lending a Hand, Taking a Stand

Getting Started. Scouting Out On-Campus Groups. Lending a Hand: Community Service. Starting Your Own Organization. Leadership and Cooperation: Organizing. Sponsoring Events on Campus. Activist Ideas. Resources.

PART SEVEN: ODDS AND ENDS

Feedback, Please

Stat Sources

Index

About the Authors