How Could Knowledge Lead To Grief?

In 1845, the Godey’s Lady’s Book published an article titled “maternal instruction”. The article purpose was to make the American public aware of the need for equal education to women. The role of mother did not only meant to bear children, but also to educate them to a symbol of society.During the start of the 19th century, American males want the newly freed states to increase the citizen patriotism and intelligence to their country. Since women were child’s fist teacher, woman’s education needed to be more proficient. Mary Wollstonecraft’s novel was a role model for American education and family life. In her novel, Wollstonecraft explains how aside from a woman’s duty as a female, she also has the job to educate her child. However, the female sex has limits for the amount of knowledge passed, and the lack of knowledge restricts a mother ability to educate her child. However, mothers are nit the only females that need to be well educated. Daughters have to get a proper education not only to become a good mother but also good

By the 1870s twenty percent of all college students were women, by the 1900s that numbered increased to 1/3. Women that attended college tended to be upper or middle class citizens, they went to college, wanting to expand their knowledge and apply it after graduation. Even with their college experience they had a lot of professional places that still denied them jobs. For example “The American Medical Association”, still denied women until 1915. Being denied access to the profession of their choice women put their skills to work in many movements.

In her next chapter, Kerber examines the newfound need for the educating of women. Women were not allowed freedom or a political opinion, but they could not be completely pushed aside. For years women had been taught that education made them undesirable to men and educated women were scorned. Kerber argues that a new need for

An inspiring woman once said, “Educate a boy, you educate a man, but educate a girl and you educate a family.” This woman was Adelaide Hunter Hoodless who was a Canadian educational reformer who believed that women had value as mothers and wives in their home. She fought for their right to education and didn't back down. Haunted by the death of her small son, she launched a twenty year campaign and gave women the knowledge and institutions that they needed to serve and safeguard their families.

In the early 1900’s some women were employed but it was nothing near the availability that men could choose what they wanted to do. Women did not have the chance to get almost any job where they had authority. Lower class women could be hired as household help or servants, assembly line laborers, prostitutes, and so on. Middle class women could help, now and again, with a family-run company, yet by and large, the economy and the general public directed that women ought to work in the home, dealing with home and health. They could be instructed and could examine, the length of it, as long as it didn't get in the way of their housework. Any genuine or energetic study of any subject was viewed as unsafe to the family, unless that genuine and enthusiastic

The first chapter of Ecclesiastes, a book in the Bible, concludes with the words, “For in much wisdom is much grief, and increase of knowledge is increase of sorrow.” This quotation explains that the more you understand and discover about the world the more despondent you will become. In The Awakening, Kate Chopin shows that knowledge can cause grief while knowledge can also cause empowerment and self-fulfillment.

Surely, she craved to write—meaning to work here—endangered her husband’s position as an authority. He would not have control any longer toward the narrator—his wife. In the 19th century upper class and middle class women were not expected to earn their own living. Women rarely had careers and most professions refused entry to women. In the middle of the 19th century it was virtually impossible for women to become doctors, engineers, architects, accountants or bankers. After a long struggle the medical profession allowed women to become doctors. It was not until 1910 that women were allowed to become accountants and bankers. However, there were still no women diplomats, barristers or judges. Women were allowed to become teachers majority of women became teaches but this was also a low paying job.

After stating these points she continues on to discuss the importance of women having the same opportunities as men. One of the first opportunities being the choice to pursue the education she desires and not one that be designated to her, “The education that will fit her to discharge the duties in the largest sphere of human usefulness, will best fit her for whatever special work she may be compelled to do.” She states that, “The strongest reason for giving woman all the opportunities for higher education, for the full development of her faculties, her

Women during the Industrial Revolution were not given the greatest education and were often kept at home to help with households. However, some women still felt that education was something that will be very helpful for them later in life. Women were seen lower than men so they did not receive the same education as the men. Many men believed that women were wasting their time taking an education because their job was staying at home, which for them required no learning. However, women still felt motivated to go to school because they knew that everyone should receive an education. Women’s education suffered because of the demands for work. Many skipped a lot of school because their work did not let them take a day off to go to school because they did not care.

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, its final words describe a stimulating idea. It sets forth the idea that when there is an expansion of one’s knowledge, there is a also an inevitable expansion with one’s sorrow. Knowledge bringing forth sorrow seems like an impossible circumstance, however evidence of this being true can be found in many situations around the world. Confirmations of this can stretch from many different types; historical, fictional, or even personal. Lord Byron, a distinguished English poet, perhaps puts the idea the best way, “Sorrow is knowledge, those that know the most must mourn the deepest, the tree of knowledge is not the tree of life.”

In the past, education was not a given option for women. Reason being is that women were required to take care of home with the inclusion of their husbands; therefore, obtaining an education was not an option. Typically, without education, a woman or any person will become unable to find a settled permanent job. In “Claiming an Education” by Adrienna Rich, the author expresses that “you who are students, is that you cannot afford to think of being here to receive an education” (Rich). She expresses that you students, regardless of gender, can receive quality education and not only that, but applying it to effective

The first and foremost best way that women had approached equality would be the pursuit of education. Judith Sargent Murray

For instance, in Frederick Douglass's essay "Learning to Read and Write", he writes about his journey in learning how to read and write. At first he regrets knowing because this enable his to understand things about his enslavement, but in the end Douglass is thankful for his knowledge because it lead to the process of escaping from slavery.  Gaining knowledge can also mean gaining fear. For instance, people can be curious about what makes a serial killer kill, but once they find out they may wish to have never gained such knowledge. They could end of scared that anyone in their life has the possibility of being serial killer. Once people gain knowledge, they can never lose it. Many men and women who join the army come back from war with a post-traumatic stress disorder. They suffered and saw many things they wish they never would have seen or endured. If they would have never joined the army, they could have the chance of being ignorant and happy. While being ignorance can lead to happiness, it is also called being selfish. If nobody ever joined the army for fear of knowledge, the United States would not be in existence. Overall, knowledge is needed for the well-being of individuals and

Providing equal education to men and women can only be useful if the society they live in view them as equals. If society’s perspective of women dehumanizes them, than they are the slaves of their community. In the book, “A Vindication of the Rights of Women”, Mary Wollstonecraft explores how “much cannot be expected from education” if society isn’t constituted differently. Since societies standards causes women to be tricked into believing they are contributing members of society. This has been evident before women gained their rights in the 1920’s. SInce many philosophers promoted male dominance rather than equality amongst both genders, women tend to still be viewed as property that should be submissive to their husbands. Thus, when rich white old men designed the educational system, it wasn’t meant for women to excel; but, they rather prove that women are intellectually unequal.

Evidence of societal belief offered insight into the woman’s singular responsibility, for value upon the woman was vacant from society or the Church in all other circumstances presented. Societal law, often more than not, found man with possession of control over most aspects in the woman’s life. Man, through such resources as the Church, discouraged woman’s ability to formulate knowledge; specifically of equality standards set in the era. Through declarations of belief, no path had been presented, nor was one to be. The woman could not acquire decent education, an attribute not seen as necessity within societies in the era; however fundamental in formulating adequate intelligence or