Question 1

Critically analyze Mary Leal Harkness's critique of vocational education for girls.

Accepted Answer

Mary Leal Harkness's critique of vocational education for girls focuses on the limited and often gender-stereotyped options available to young women in vocational education programs. She argues that these programs often steer girls towards traditional "female" careers such as secretarial work, nursing, or cosmetology, while neglecting to offer them opportunities in traditionally male-dominated fields such as engineering, technology, or skilled trades.

Harkness also points out the lack of support and resources for girls who are interested in non-traditional vocations, as well as the societal attitudes that discourage them from pursuing these paths. She emphasizes the importance of providing equal access to a wide range of vocational education options for young women, and of challenging the gender norms that limit their choices.

Harkness's critique raises important questions about the role of vocational education in perpetuating gender inequality and limiting girls' career prospects. It highlights the need for systemic change in how vocational education is structured and delivered to ensure that it empowers young women to pursue their interests and talents, regardless of gender stereotypes. Her analysis calls for a more inclusive and equitable approach to vocational education that recognizes and supports the diverse career aspirations of girls.

Question 2

Do you believe that any of Augustine's views on women and men continue to influence the educational experiences of girls and women today? How, specifically?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Augustine's views on women and men continue to influence the educational experiences of girls and women today. One way in which this influence is seen is through the perpetuation of gender stereotypes and biases in educational settings. Augustine's belief in the inherent inferiority of women has contributed to the historical exclusion of women from certain fields of study and limited access to higher education. This continues to impact the educational opportunities available to girls and women today, as they may face societal expectations and institutional barriers that discourage their pursuit of certain academic and professional paths. Additionally, Augustine's emphasis on the importance of women's chastity and modesty has contributed to the policing of women's behavior and dress in educational environments, perpetuating a culture of victim-blaming and limiting their freedom of expression. Overall, Augustine's views on women and men have had a lasting impact on the educational experiences of girls and women, influencing the opportunities available to them and perpetuating gender inequality in academic settings.

Question 3

If the Seneca Falls Declaration was purposely based on classical liberalism-which was the dominant ideology of the time-how could the document have been considered radical or extreme in its views? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The Seneca Falls Declaration, written in 1848, was indeed based on classical liberalism, which emphasized individual rights, limited government intervention, and equality before the law. However, the document was considered radical or extreme in its views for several reasons.

First, the Seneca Falls Declaration called for women's suffrage, a concept that was almost unheard of at the time. While classical liberalism did emphasize individual rights, it typically did so for property-owning men, not for women. The idea of women having the right to vote was seen as a challenge to the traditional social and political order, making it radical in the eyes of many at the time.

Additionally, the Seneca Falls Declaration also called for women to have the right to own property, receive education, and pursue careers, all of which were radical ideas in a society where women were largely expected to focus on domestic duties and child-rearing. These demands were seen as extreme because they challenged the traditional gender roles and power dynamics of the time.

Furthermore, the Seneca Falls Declaration also criticized the legal and social status of women, pointing out the inequalities and injustices they faced. This critique of the existing social and legal order was seen as radical and extreme because it called for significant changes to the established norms and power structures.

In conclusion, while the Seneca Falls Declaration was based on classical liberalism, its calls for women's suffrage, property rights, education, and critiques of the existing social and legal order were considered radical and extreme in their views because they challenged the traditional gender roles and power dynamics of the time.

Question 4

Do you see any parallels to the past in examples of conservative, liberal, and radical thinking about the roles (and therefore the education) of girls and women today? Give examples and evidence to support your view.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Do you see any parallels to the...

Question 5

Critically evaluate what you take to be the most important claims and resolutions made in the Seneca Falls Declaration. Why do you think the twelfth and last resolution would have been only narrowly passed, instead of unanimously passed, as the others were?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Critically evaluate what you take to be...

Question 6

Given your understanding of the history and educational experiences of women as a marginalized group, what "lessons" have you, or should the larger community of educators, take away from this understanding?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Given your understanding of the history and...

Question 7

The historical exclusion of girls from schooling prior to the Revolution was grounded in the view that

Accepted Answer

The exclusion of girls from schooling was based on multiple beliefs, including that they didn't need formal education for societal roles, were unsuited for intellectual activities, and that education could harm their nature.

Question 8

The term "cult of domesticity" refers to

Accepted Answer

The "cult of domesticity" refers to the 19th-century ideology that emphasized women's roles within the home and family, promoting the idea that women should be educated to fulfill their domestic duties effectively.

Question 9

By the late nineteenth century, girls outnumbered boys in public high school graduation,

Accepted Answer

By the late nineteenth century, while girls outnumbered boys in public high school graduation, fewer than ten percent of the entire high school-aged population graduated.

Question 10

In 1861, Matthew Vassar established a college dedicated to

Accepted Answer

Matthew Vassar established Vassar College in 1861 with the aim of providing women with an education equal to that of men's colleges, focusing on intellectual preparation rather than vocational training or domestic roles.

Question 11

Public vocational education for women became a significant educational issue during the Progressive Era at about the same time that

Accepted Answer

During the Progressive Era, public vocational education for women became significant due to the convergence of several factors: the influx of new immigrants, the rise of industrialization and bureaucratization creating office jobs for women, and the growing concern for vocational education for boys.

Question 12

In the Progressive Era's approach to differentiated curriculum,

Accepted Answer

During the Progressive Era, both gender and class influenced educational tracking, with girls from different social classes being directed towards either vocational or academic paths.

Question 13

Harkness's views on vocational education are not only critical with regard to girls and young women,

Accepted Answer

Harkness's views are critical of vocational education for girls and young women, critical of wasting any student's time in vocational coursework, and critical of the view that motherhood is a woman's highest calling.

Question 14

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott appear to endorse a view of women's capacity for rationality that is

Accepted Answer

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott believed that women were just as rational as men, which was contrary to the view held by Jefferson and classical liberals. They also believed that women should have the same rights and opportunities as men, which was similar to the view later held by Mary Leal Harkness. Finally, they believed that women should be educated, which was similar to the view held by Matthew Vassar.

Question 15

The reason Mary Leal Harkness felt the approach to women's education needed to change was that

Accepted Answer

The answer of The reason Mary Leal Harkness felt the...

Question 16

A problem with the academy system with respect to woman's education was that

Accepted Answer

The academy system often provided a separate curriculum for girls that was not equal to that of boys, focusing more on domestic skills rather than academic subjects.

Question 17

Why is it important to study women's education separately from that of males?

Accepted Answer

The education of females has historically been different in purpose and content from that of males, often focusing on domestic skills rather than academic or professional development, which necessitates separate study to address these disparities and promote equality.

Question 18

Anna Julia Cooper

Accepted Answer

Anna Julia Cooper was a university president and one of the first African-Americans to receive a Ph.D.

Question 19

The most common ideological perspective(s) on the social roles of women in the nineteenth century was/ were held by:

Accepted Answer

All these perspectives were present in the nineteenth century, with conservatives maintaining traditional roles, liberals seeking to expand roles within existing frameworks, and radicals pushing for broader changes.

Question 20

What two components most led to the Progressive Era changes in the nature and purpose of women's education?

Accepted Answer

Domestic sciences and commercial education were key components that led to changes in women's education during the Progressive Era, as they aligned with the era's focus on practical skills and economic independence for women.

Quiz 8: National School Reform: The Early Cold War ERA