{"id":140126,"date":"2024-01-09T00:02:37","date_gmt":"2024-01-09T05:02:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=140126"},"modified":"2024-01-08T15:37:11","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T20:37:11","slug":"conservative-group-publishes-young-womens-guide-to-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/conservative-group-publishes-young-womens-guide-to-college\/","title":{"rendered":"Find community, keep your faith: new guide tells conservative women to stay strong"},"content":{"rendered":"

In ‘You’re Not Alone,’ conservative leader offers alternatives to liberal feminism<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The Network of enlightened Women recently launched a book on thriving as a conservative woman on campus, including tips on choosing a college, finding a mentor, and dating with an eye toward marriage.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou’re Not Alone: The Conservative Woman’s Guide to College,\u201d published<\/a> Jan. 1, was written by Karin Lips, president of NeW and an alumna of the University of Virginia. Her book breaks down how a young woman can find a school that feels right for her and suggestions for her time as an undergraduate.<\/p>\n

Lips (pictured<\/em>) told The College Fix<\/em> in an email on Jan. 3 that the book is about \u201chow important it is for young conservative women to intentionally build a community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cI encourage them to join conservative clubs and take advantage of opportunities that will put them in the room with other conservatives,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Other strategies the book suggests for finding support include picking the right major, joining a faith group, and seeking a reliable faculty mentor.<\/p>\n

Lips hopes this guide will serve all types of conservative women, including those who are less politically outspoken, she told The Fix.<\/em><\/p>\n

Lips founded NeW as \u201cas an organization for conservative university women to provide an alternative to the liberal feminism I saw on campus,\u201d according to her website<\/a>. \u201cIt turns out there were a lot of women who felt like modern feminism didn\u2019t represent them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lips’ book is divided into four parts: College Preparation, the Campus Atmosphere, Campus Organizations, and Personal Advancement. Each section includes anecdotes from Lips and other women highlighting strategies that might work for a woman on her own journey during college.<\/p>\n

Finding like-minded friends, Lips says in the guide, is important in countering self-censorship and the social pressures that come with belonging to the conservative minority.<\/p>\n

The book cites a 2022 poll from the nonprofit Knight Foundation that found<\/a>\u00a0“a majority of students (65%) agree strongly or somewhat that their campus climate prevents some people from saying things they believe because others might find the remarks offensive.”<\/p>\n

Book also speaks to women who prioritize personal life over politics<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSome young conservative women choose not to lead with their political views,\u201d she said. \u201cYet others find that being the \u2018conservative girl\u2019 on campus helps them make friends. Their peers who may tend to be quieter about their views appreciate these women for standing up for what they believe in and then approach them.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the book, Lips also addressed women who prioritize family over public life.<\/p>\n

\u201cAccording to Her Campus Media, 85% of college women want to be married by the age of thirty,\u201d she told The Fix.<\/em> \u201cPolitics is only one part of your life on campus \u2014 don\u2019t neglect your personal life!\u201d<\/p>\n

She told The Fix<\/em> she\u2019d \u201c like to see this topic talked about more on campus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lips also turned to Brad Wilcox for advice on how college women can pursue marriage. He is the director of the National Marriage Project and a sociology professor at UVA.<\/p>\n

\u201cStart looking for a good man in college and maintain high standards for relationships in college,\u201d Wilcox wrote. \u201cIf you find your future husband in college, great. If not, you\u2019re setting yourself up for making better choices later in young adulthood. Women who move slowly and deliberately in relationships tend to forge better marriages.\u201d<\/p>\n

The book concludes with a reminder to women that they should be confident in their beliefs and unafraid of new connections and experiences.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile campus might feel lonely, you\u2019re not alone,\u201d Lips writes. \u201cIf you are feeling lonely, you can always join the NeW community. It was created for women like you.\u201d<\/p>\n

MORE: \u2018Single and childless\u2019 adults are less happy than married couples: scholars<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

IMAGE: KarinLips.com, Network of Enlightened Women<\/p>\n

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