I went to all-girls schools between the ages of 13 and almost-18; one of the schools I hated and the other one I loved, but I got a great education in most areas, and I'm relatively fearless about voicing my opinions in mixed company. I think single-gender classes can be a very successful model. Of course "separate but equal" was a complete disgrace when it was used to suppress blacks, but I really don't think this is in any way comparable to that. I've taught middle-school kids and I think they're probably much better off being segregated at that age, and for several years after. Kids need social interaction with the opposite sex, and they need education but they don't need them in the same place.

The thing I thought was hair-raising social control in the Atwood book was the suggestion that all divorce was biblically forbidden, so we'd all be forced to return to our first spouses. Yikes! Talk about widespread misery!