women's education in the 18 th century

By: Ocean-Leigh Peters, Tomalyn Young and Leanne Fancy

WOMEN'S EDUCATION IN THE 18TH CENTURY

“It was in fact a matter of pride that English Women had so quickly become the most

literate and refined of any nation on earth” – Miller Women’s Education “Self

Improvement”

Depended on the governess and the teachers Unsystematic and haphazard

Private libraries Practical education to prepare them for mother and

wifehood Boarding schools

BASIC EDUCATION FOR YOUNG LADIES

In 1770 at St. Anne’s College the curriculum for women consisted of:

Studying the Bible Training in accounting and household management

Translation practice in French and English Botany Geology

Astronomy Geography

Study of history, particularly the British Empire

BASIC EDUCATION FOR YOUNG LADIES CONT…

Education was based on sexual differences Classical and non-classical education

Men were considered smarter than women Boys received better books than girls

“The very structure of a woman’s mind renders her incapable of profound thought and careful reasoning”- John

Bennett

BOY’S EDUCATION VS. GIRL’S EDUCATION

Day Boarders: meals were provided Day Scholars: provided their own meals

Schooling equaled social advancement and marriage for young ladies

Fees: basic fees were 100-200 pounds, cheaper schools were 40-60 pounds

More money, more education

BOARDING SCHOOLS

SPCK: Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge

Education for the poor “Object of Charity”

Girls curriculum: knitting stocking and school uniforms, embroidery, ironing, laundry duties, cleaning the school

rooms, and the fundamental rules of arithmetic. “Housewifery” education

CHARITY SCHOOLS

Wait lists St. James Westminster, St. Anne’s, Cripplegate Ward

School, St. Saviors

CHARITY SCHOOLS CONT…

1st Degree: for the nobility Take place at home or in expensive boarding schools

Should have the best education Girls were encouraged to support charities and improve

their mind No educational topic was off limits

A lady from the nobility should: “devote her time, her talents, and her fortune to the

improvement of public morals, and the increase of public happiness” - Miller

PRISCILLA WAKEFIELD’S EDUCATION PROPOSAL

2nd Degree: the wealthy middle class Day or domestic education for young ladies

Cooking, medicine, dressmaking, infant rearing, arithmetic, English, bookkeeping, and drawing

Once married should/would study her husband business Interest in charities like noble women

PRISCILLA WAKEFIELD’S EDUCATION PROPOSAL

CONT…

3rd Degree Day schools to learn

reading, writing, arithmetic, history and needlework

Taught modesty, humility, and sobriety

Earn their own living

4th Degree: the laboring poor

Charity, Sunday or Industrial schools

Practical education for their class

PRISCILLA WAKEFIELD’S EDUCATION PROPOSAL

CONT…

Born: April 27, 1759 Died: September 10, 1797

Mother of Mary Shelly who wrote Frankenstein Feminist philosopher

An author of novels, treaties, travel narratives, history of the French revolution, conduct literature and a children’s

book Written works involving the education of women:

“Thoughts of the Education of Daughters”, and “Vindication of the Rights of Women”

MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Education for middle class children Discipline, honesty, frugality, social contentment and

reason

MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT CONT…“THOUGHTS ON THE EDUCATION OF

DAUGHTERS”

Women only appear inferior to men due to a lack of education

Men and women are equal in the eyes of God Appropriate education for your place in society

Power to the middle class Women are powerful and important in their own way

Lack of education is bad for women, their children and their husbands

MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT CONT…“A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF

WOMAN”

“Without virtuous wives and mothers, there can be no virtuous people nor virtuous nation. It is in women that

patriotism and morality depend” – Jean Jacques Rousseau

Powerful voice of feminism Influence on education for girls

Girls did not want to learn, a “natural” dislike

JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU

Enlightenment thinker Humans are good by

nature Corrupted by historical

events Difficulty with authorities over his works such as the

“Emile” Influenced by Immanuel

Kant

The “Emile” Details Rousseau’s

philosophy on education Rooted in the idea that

humans are basically good Education should cultivate out natural

tendencies Important moral lessons

for women and children Education means better

engagement in society

JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU CONT…

Sophie’s education is different than Emile’s Submissive to Emile

Training for womanhood Drawing, writing, counting, reading, art of pleasing,

religion and reason

JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU CONT… SOPHIE IN THE

EMILE

THANKS FOR WATCHING!We hope you enjoyed your 18th

century education