Wst quiz 6 question 1

Historical Perspectives on

Women’s Education

Education is more than just learning how to read, how to write, or practice and apply mathematics Education imparts

skills that create options for individuals in economic, social, and political life

Women’s education in the 17th and 18th centuries was

limited to educating women for their roles as mothers and to help rear their children into

their perspective roles in society.

It wasn’t until the 1830’s when the coeducational of colleges began Women would

take their

education and

construct

seminars to

share and learn

among

themselves

Women were only permitted to learn what

was their expected roles in life

A women’s education was not in a school setting

Women taught women what they needed to know inside of their homes

Mothers would teach their daughters job skills such as a

laundress

If reading was taught, it was only

from the Bible

The first American school for girls was established 1786 in

Philadelphia

It was realized that mothers are teachers

Women were to be educated for motherhood

Despite the achievements of getting women into schools, the women’s role was still

viewed as a wife and homemaker

Many female students were excluded from higher levels of education

In the 19th century women were accepted into colleges and permitted to earn degrees

This opened doors for

employment to

women primarily as

teachers

These teaching jobs were underpaid as men argued that a women did not need to support her family as a man did

Even in all women’s schools, the females role in the college was restrictive

If a woman were to marry she was expected to leave her position at the

school…..if she were to become pregnant she would be forced to

leave

School boards were permitted to demand women loose their employment if they married or became pregnant

Gender segregation in education was enforced

Females were not permitted to study in certain fields

Such as Art due to nude models and medical training due to the cadavers

Considerable sex segregation remained into the 20th century

Physical education classes were segregated

Females would learn sewing and cooking

Males would learn metal or woodworking

Children are taught at a young age that some subjects are

“MASCULINE” “FEMININE”

Even with gender integration into the 20th century

Males and Females make different choices for their high school and college studies

Females tend to enter fields such as

EducationEducation

Literature

Library Science

Health Science

Psychology

Gender Expectations

Girls learn not to expect much from their own abilities Many girls

underrate themselves

Do males and females have the fullest opportunity to receive the education they choose?

Researchers suggest they are not given these opportunities due to subtle and not-so-subtle messages

Teachers treat male and female students differently

And most are not aware

Some schools are unwilling to handle the problem of gender stereotyping However a few

have made strides in correcting gender bias in teaching methods and school curricula

Most educators probably believe that education must continue to change

The problem is how to accomplish this??

There will most likely not be any major changes in the status or roles of women in society

Until education changes!

Some of the things people learn in school is how to

understand others

work with others

respect others

get along with others

REFERENCE

Shapiro, Virginia. Women in American Society: An introduction to Women’s Studies. New York

2003. Print