The position of woman: actual and ideal / with preface by Sir Oliver Lodge.

Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The position of woman: actual and ideal / with preface by Sir Oliver Lodge. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    that it has stood for a long time the test of eliminative selection. (>) The harmless historical commonplace has sometimes beén used to discourage the education of woman and the widening of her share in the world’s work. ‘‘ Her place is in the home,” we are told. To which one might answer much, but, firstly, that much depends on the home. It was a very many-sided home in which woman evolved. And, secondly, that in the present con- dition of things, in this country for instance, a very large number never have what most men and women mean by a home. (c) And, again, the historical commonplace has sometimes been used by those who are women’s best, if not always wisest, friends. Some who have a firm grip of the fact that women are wives and mothers at heart, who are also influenced by the prevalent technical education fallacy of our day, have advocated a more predominantly domestic and maternal education for girls. But there are great dangers in exaggerating what in moderation is sound enough. A broadly educated intellec- tually alert mother means much for the mental atmosphere of the home, and that means much for the children. And an over-emphasized domestic education is apt to force a premature develop- ment of mental and perhaps bodily instincts, which in many cases will find no realization in hfe. 10. Our second thesis is the converse of the first.