History of educational rights of European women

In the early to mid 19th century European women held the role of caretaker, wives, and sometimes laborers. European women were a little different from women in say Asia or some Islamic countries. They did not for instance have to be covered when going out in to public. European women were seen as people with rights and opinions. Although opinions and legal actions had to be shared through their husbands voice, unless it was a matter that concerned her household. She then had the right to speak on behalf of her husband (Butschek, 2006).

As time went on women began to find more ways of getting equal rights, possibly through their churches or by speaking about other issues than ones concerning their household.  These small but necessary steps are possibly what began the push to equalize gender rights in the society. This struggle would continue, as women would continue to fight for more equal rights over the ages.

As women developed in society they became teachers for their children. Boys who had the privilege of attending school would come home with from school with questions just as they do now. The difference is that back then, women would try to help their children understand their school work with no educational background(Butschek, 2006).

I believe the idea of women attending school may have first seemed attractive to men in the sense that if the mothers of their son's are educated then by them helping their children at home will simply increase the learning ability of the male population. Women were then being considered more and more to have the same rights as men, still through a male dominant lens. You can see how women were slowly starting to make stride in their advancement towards equality.

Education still remained a priority for men until the mid 19th century when in 1886 Zurich, Switzerland allowed women to attend their University, being one of the first to accept female applicants. Although Holland was the first country to pioneer women's education by default of not stating in their regulations that women were prohibited from applying to University.  Unfortunately they did not receive their first female applicant until 1880. Sweden then opened their doors to the female academics in 1870, Denmark in 1875, and Italy in 1876(Lang, 2012).

In conclusion, we must recognize all of the struggled and hardships women in the past have faced throughout time, to achieve what great opportunities are available for women today.

-Denise



References

Lang, H. (2010). Higher education of women in Europe, Europaeischer Hochschulverlag GmbH & CO KG, Bremen, Germany.

Butschek, F. (2006). The role of women in Industrialization, Working paper series by the University of Applied Sciences of bfi Vienna, 25, 14-17.