Although the first women's college was founded in 1869: it was a long-contested history.
Girton College was founded in 1869, Newnham soon after, but women were not allowed to be full members of the University at that time. Their integration took many years and it was only in 1948 they were entitled to collect their degree and call themselves BA. There were no mixed colleges until 1972, after which the proportion of female undergraduates in the university rapidly rose. Thus, the history of women in the University has been something of a long struggle and, despite two female vice chancellors (including the current one) some people would argue we have still not reached true equality. As the University's Gender Equality Champion (2010-14) Professor Dame Athene Donald saw some of the consequences first hand.