Difference between revisions of "Week 5 Questions/Comments-327 09"
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== Benjamin Rush, “Thoughts upon female education,” 1787 (Philadelphia) == | == Benjamin Rush, “Thoughts upon female education,” 1787 (Philadelphia) == | ||
| − | I found it interesting how Benjamin Rush considered a sound female education to be a "domestic education". He believed women needed to be "trained to manage efficient households, and as mothers, they had to raise virtuous citizens." (Woloch, 130) When he used the word "trained", he seemed to be implying that someone else would train women in their duties, meaning the men would. I found it ironic that Rush said, "It becomes us [the men] therefore to prepare them [women], by a suitable education, for the discharge of this most important duty of mothers." (Woloch, 131) What makes men so qualified to teach women how to do domestic and motherly duties, when they have no idea what those duties entail? Rush and other men felt it was their obligation to teach women to do jobs they were already doing. I also felt as though Rush assumed women could not do any of the jobs/talents he listed, such as learning the English language, or bookkeeping. I have a feeling that Rush and other men were under the impression that motherly and domestic duties were simple to understand and easy to do, yet I think Rush had never heard the saying "easier said than done." ---- Alex Mankarios | + | '''I found it interesting how Benjamin Rush considered a sound female education to be a "domestic education".''' He believed women needed to be "trained to manage efficient households, and as mothers, they had to raise virtuous citizens." (Woloch, 130) When he used the word "trained", he seemed to be implying that someone else would train women in their duties, meaning the men would. I found it ironic that Rush said, "It becomes us [the men] therefore to prepare them [women], by a suitable education, for the discharge of this most important duty of mothers." (Woloch, 131)''' What makes men so qualified to teach women how to do domestic and motherly duties, when they have no idea what those duties entail? Rush and other men felt it was their obligation to teach women to do jobs they were already doing.''' I also felt as though Rush assumed women could not do any of the jobs/talents he listed, such as learning the English language, or bookkeeping. I have a feeling that Rush and other men were under the impression that motherly and domestic duties were simple to understand and easy to do, yet I think Rush had never heard the saying "easier said than done." ---- Alex Mankarios |
| − | I thought it was interesting how Benjamin Rush directed his argument and his speech to the "Gentlemen" in the audience, even though he was discussing female education and what he thought should be done or corrected in the present education systems in order to better prepare women for their roles as wives and mothers. I think this is evidence that the men were still thought to be "responsible" for their wives and daughters- society at this time still seems to be very much a patriarchal one by reading what Benjamin Rush has to say. I suppose it will still be a while (perhaps not until the early-to-mid 19th Century would be my guess, when you have a lot of reform movements, among them education reforms)before women have more of a "voice" in their own education. Here, the females seem to play a "secondary role" to that of the Gentlemen, even though they are the ones receiving the education. -Allison Godart | + | '''I thought it was interesting how Benjamin Rush directed his argument and his speech to the "Gentlemen" in the audience, even though he was discussing female education''' and what he thought should be done or corrected in the present education systems in order to better prepare women for their roles as wives and mothers. I think this is evidence that the men were still thought to be "responsible" for their wives and daughters- society at this time still seems to be very much a patriarchal one by reading what Benjamin Rush has to say. I suppose it will still be a while (perhaps not until the early-to-mid 19th Century would be my guess, when you have a lot of reform movements, among them education reforms)before women have more of a "voice" in their own education. Here, the females seem to play a "secondary role" to that of the Gentlemen, even though they are the ones receiving the education. -Allison Godart |
| − | Thoughts upon Female Education is addressed (for the most part) to men, post Revolutionary War, advocating the increase in female education. Since it was addressed to men, the benefits of an educated female were directed towards the male concerns of economic, political, religious, and social logic that would thus persuade them that this education would be good (for the men). He stated that by educating females they would be helpful to their husbands in their business and personal affairs, they would be “an agreeable companion for a sensible man” (132), it would prevent superstition, they would be better suited for domestic affairs and rearing of the children, and that “the government of them will be easy and agreeable” (133). I also found it humorous that among these sensible arguments, the advocating for dance within education was important because it “promotes health and renders the figure and motions of the body easy and agreeable”. (132) Among these rational thoughts of intelligence, handiness, and, social morality, that a woman’s figure would be as important as the rest and ought to be addressed in their education was interesting and amusing. – Elyse Lawrence | + | Thoughts upon Female Education is addressed (for the most part) to men, post Revolutionary War, advocating the increase in female education. '''Since it was addressed to men, the benefits of an educated female were directed towards the male concerns of economic, political, religious, and social logic that would thus persuade them that this education would be good (for the men).''' He stated that by educating females they would be helpful to their husbands in their business and personal affairs, '''they would be “an agreeable companion for a sensible man” (132), it would prevent superstition, they would be better suited for domestic affairs and rearing of the children, and that “the government of them will be easy and agreeable” (133).''' I also found it humorous that among these sensible arguments, the advocating for dance within education was important because it “promotes health and renders the figure and motions of the body easy and agreeable”. (132) Among these rational thoughts of intelligence, handiness, and, social morality, that a woman’s figure would be as important as the rest and ought to be addressed in their education was interesting and amusing. – Elyse Lawrence |
== Judith Sargent Murray, 1790, “on the Equality of the Sexes” == | == Judith Sargent Murray, 1790, “on the Equality of the Sexes” == | ||
