What was education like for women in the 16th century?

Answer 1

We have very little record of how women were educated during the Middle Ages. This is clearly not because they were never educated, but rather because people did not consider the matter important enough to record. Nevertheless, we do know enough about the educations of women we can take as examples to piece together an idea of how women were educated.

Women who were educated in the Early Middle Ages (500-1000 AD) were mostly educated in monasteries or at court. A woman who had a chance of marrying a prince or other important member of the nobility were trained to be able to act as regents or representatives of their husbands. Two examples of such women were Ethelfleda, a daughter of Alfred the Great, and Cynethryth, who is known to have acted as Offa's steward. We do not have a lot of information about where they were educated, however.

During the High Middle Ages (1000-1300) and Late Middle Ages (1300-1450), when education became easier to get, women of wealthy families were additionally able to have tutors. Queen Matilda of England was able to read and speak Latin, skills she learned from tutors at the court of the Holy Roman Empire. Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was renowned for her literary interests, was educated by tutors hired by her father. Matilda of Scotland got her education in a convent school, a fact that was recorded only as an accident of history. But other women were also starting to be educated, as in the cases of the renowned poet, Marie of France, who wrote around the year 1200, and was of unknown origin. Another example is Christine de Pizan, who lived from 1365 to 1434, and was a highly regarded poet. She had been raised in Venice and was the daughter of a physician. She was quite possibly educated in part at home by a tutor, but was almost certainly given some education in an abbey. She is said to be the first woman of Europe to be a professional poet, as she received her support from patrons.

Schools, which had been opening all over Europe from the seventh century on, were usually unavailable to women. Nevertheless, there are cases known of women sitting in on university classes informally, or even attending. Héloïse d'Argenteuil (ca. 1101 -- 1164) was one such woman, and her relationship with Peter Abélard is a matter of much literary discussion. This situation gradually changed as the Middle Ages continued to change, especially as the Renaissance began and the rights of women became more and more curtailed.

Of course, it should be born in mind that the great majority of women were not educated beyond the needs of the household during the Middle Ages, and this did not include literacy. Nevertheless, we should not conclude that they were illiterate. For example, Margery Kempe, who called herself unlettered, showed evidence in the materials she left behind of being quite able to read. She was the author of The Book of Margery Kempe, which is considered the first autobiography written in the English Language.

Answer 2

It really depended on your country, your social status, and the attitude of your father. In most of Europe, for example, only upper-class women were given an opportunity to study, usually with private tutors, and only if their father approved. It was considered a good thing for wealthy young women to know about music, the fine arts, great literature, and some basics about business-- since they might have to run a household that had servants; it was also considered useful for upper-class women to have some education so that they could teach their young children. Of course, there were a few exceptions, where an upper-class woman was considered so talented that she was given greater opportunities to study, but for the most part, women were not found in the average classroom, and universities were only open to white, Christian men. However, it is worth noting that during this time, a few schools were established for upper-class girls. The goal was to teach them to read so that they could read The Bible and appreciate poetry, as well as teaching them basic mathematics and science. These schools were established out of the belief that an education would make young women more interesting as wives.

Among the poor, women received just about no education whatsoever, since it was believed they would only be servants, domestics, and laborers and did not need to know about poetry or art or philosophy. Girls from the lower classes were apprenticed into whatever skills their parents believed would be needed for their employment; child labor was common in that era. Girls were expected to only know how to sew, how to cook, and how to perform other domestic tasks their employer might expect.

Answer 3

Maria Agnesi was not born until may 16 1718.

Answer 4

As Marie Agnesi wasn't born until 1718, the Middle Ages would not have heard of her.

Answer 5

These are two huge issues, and they really should be treated separately. There are two links below, one to a question on each issue.

Answer 6

Not much. Women were expected to cook, clean and be mothers.