Let your children be brought up together; let their sports and studies be the same; let them enjoy, in the constant presence of those who are set over them, all that freedom which innocence renders harmless, and in which Nature rejoices. (MACAULAY 1790: 32)
Eighteenth Century England was a time in which women had little to say in society. They did not have the right to vote, they were not allowed to own properties, when married and as the husband was the chief breadwinner, they were not supposed to work. As they could not leave the house alone without being considered a prostitute, they were confined to the home where they would have to take care of the children and the household, “a subordinate role [...] in society” (AUGUSTIN 2005: 2). As a consequence, as girls did not need to go to school to learn their future tasks as housewives, they were educated at home by their mothers who acted as a role model.
The entire eighteenth and well into the nineteenth century there was little change in how girls and women were educated. The old system of patriarchy was still well established but it began to crumble little by little. Women began to fight for their rights getting more and more supporters.
This work is trying to shed light on this period's progression from girls being educated poorly to girls having the same education as their brothers. The fist chapter is going to show how gender differences were tried to be justified from a psyco-medical point of view, transferring the scientific findings to women's roles in society.
The second chapter will show how important women were beginning to challenge the old system, disproving the validity of the scientific findings. Here a subdivision between the eighteenth and the nineteenth century is necessary to properly cover a timespan of roughly 150 years. The Bluestocking Circle as one of the first organizations of women will be shown as the point of departure for women's disapproval of the old system. In this context Mary Wollstonecraft as the leading character of the eighteenth century is going to be the center of attention as well as other important writers such as Catherine Macaulay Graham, Emily Davies and Elizabeth Wolstenholme-Elmy. Of course there were many more women who would need to be mentioned, but due to limited space of this work, cannot be analyzed.
Having shown progressive views on how the education of girls should be adapted, the last chapter is going to give some insights on what schooling ...
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- 1 Gender Differences
- 1.1 Mental Differences between Men and Women
- 1.2 Women's Roles in Society
- 2 Challenging the Old System
- 2.1 The Eighteenth Century
- 2.1.1 The Bluestocking Circle
- 2.1.2 Mary Wollstonecraft
- 2.1.3 Catherine Macaulay Graham
- 2.2 The Nineteenth Century
- 2.2.1 Emily Davies
- 2.2.2 Elizabeth Wolstenholme-Elmy
- 2.1 The Eighteenth Century
- 3 Schooling Opportunities
- 3.1 The Governess
- 3.2 Traditional Private Girl's Schools
- 3.3 New Educational Institutions
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work aims to examine the evolution of female education in 18th and 19th century Britain, tracing the shift from limited opportunities to a more inclusive system. The work explores the historical context, societal beliefs, and key figures who challenged traditional gender roles and advocated for greater educational access for women.
- The historical context of female education in 18th and 19th century Britain.
- The prevailing gender stereotypes and societal expectations that limited women's opportunities.
- The emergence of female voices challenging the established system and advocating for greater educational access for women.
- The impact of significant figures like Mary Wollstonecraft, Catherine Macaulay Graham, Emily Davies, and Elizabeth Wolstenholme-Elmy on the development of female education.
- The evolution of schooling opportunities for girls, including the roles of governesses, private schools, and new educational institutions.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter delves into the established gender roles and societal expectations of women in 18th and 19th century Britain. It examines how societal beliefs about women's mental capacity, based on perceived physical differences and scientific theories of the time, were used to justify their limited educational opportunities. The chapter analyzes the arguments presented to restrict women's participation in intellectual activities and their role in society.
The second chapter examines the rise of women challenging the established system. It explores the emergence of movements and individuals who questioned traditional gender roles and advocated for greater educational access for women. The Bluestocking Circle is presented as an early example of female empowerment, and the work of Mary Wollstonecraft, a leading figure in advocating for women's rights, is highlighted. The chapter also explores the contributions of other influential figures such as Catherine Macaulay Graham, Emily Davies, and Elizabeth Wolstenholme-Elmy, who continued the fight for equal education for girls in the 19th century.
The third chapter analyzes the actual schooling opportunities available to girls during this period. It explores the role of governesses as educators, the limitations of traditional private schools, and the development of new educational institutions that offered greater opportunities for girls. This chapter delves into the changing landscape of female education and the impact of societal shifts on the availability of resources and access to learning.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics include female education, gender differences, societal expectations, women's rights, educational access, historical context, social change, Bluestocking Circle, Mary Wollstonecraft, Catherine Macaulay Graham, Emily Davies, Elizabeth Wolstenholme-Elmy, governesses, private schools, new educational institutions, 18th century, 19th century, England.
- Quote paper
- Nico Hübner (Author), 2011, Female Education in 18th and 19th Century Britain, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/180532
