A finishing school is an educational institution that teaches cultural values and norms. Most are exclusively for women, and as the name implies, students attend the school after completing their basic education, “finishing” their education with lessons on how to live in society. Many of these schools focus specifically on upper-class values, producing cultured, polite women who, thanks to their extensive training, tend to do very well in society.
The length of a finishing school session varies. Some programs are up to a year long, while others are much shorter and more intensive. Women at school are expected to be well-behaved, and many schools have dress codes and other behavior requirements in place to remind students of basic politeness rules.
Etiquette classes cover everything from being a well-mannered hostess to meeting foreign dignitaries, so it’s no surprise that it’s a big part of finishing school. Students learn about a variety of activities in addition to etiquette. Many schools provide instruction in the arts, such as painting and dance, as well as sports such as tennis, riding, skiing, and other activities, ensuring that their graduates can enjoy themselves in a variety of situations. This type of school has traditionally provided language instruction.
Historically, much of the instruction at such a school centered on honing already-developed skills. For example, upper-class women should have been well-versed in etiquette, and many should have developed skills in sports and the arts. Finishing school, on the other hand, would have honed those skills, preparing women for a wide range of social situations and demonstrating how to conduct themselves as adults.
Finishing schools have declined dramatically in modern times, though some do exist, and some people lament the loss of the tradition. The term has also been used in a derogatory sense to refer to women’s colleges that are designed to produce compliant, cultured women who plan to marry right away rather than pursue careers.