Women's Intellect

My Dear Sister,—It will scarcely be denied, I presume, that, as a general rule, men do not desire the improvement of women. There are few instances of men who are magnanimous enough to be entirely willing that women should know more than themselves, on any subjects except dress and cookery; and, indeed, this necessarily flows from their assumption of superiority. As they have determined that Jehovah has placed woman on a lower platform than man, they of course wish to keep her there; and hence the noble faculties of our minds are crushed, and our reasoning powers are almost wholly uncultivated.

My Dear Sister, I assume that few would deny that, as a general rule, men do not want women to improve. Few men are generous enough to be completely willing for women to know more than they do, except about dress and cooking. Indeed, this follows naturally from men's assumption that they are superior. Since they have decided that Jehovah placed woman below man, they naturally want to keep her there. As a result, the noble powers of our minds are crushed, and our ability to reason is almost entirely undeveloped.

A writer in the time of Charles I. says—‘She that knoweth how to compound a pudding, is more desirable than she who skilfully compounded a poem. A female poet I mislike at all times.’ Within the last century, it has been gravely asserted that, ‘chemistry enough to keep the pot boiling, and geography enough to know the location of the different rooms in her house, is learning sufficient for a woman.’ Byron, who was too sensual to conceive of a pure and perfect companionship between the sexes, would limit a woman’s library to a Bible and cookery book. I have myself heard men, who knew for themselves the value of intellectual culture, say they cared very little for a wife who could not make a pudding, and smile with contempt at the ardent thirst for knowledge exhibited by some women.

A writer in the time of Charles I said: ‘A woman who knows how to make a pudding is more desirable than one who skillfully writes a poem. I dislike a female poet at all times.’ Within the last century, someone seriously claimed that ‘a woman needs only enough chemistry to keep the pot boiling. She needs only enough geography to know where the different rooms in her house are.’ Byron was too sensual to imagine a pure and perfect companionship between the sexes. He would limit a woman’s library to a Bible and a cookbook. I have heard men say they cared very little for a wife who could not make a pudding. These men knew the value of intellectual education for themselves. Yet I have seen them smile with contempt at the passionate thirst for knowledge shown by some women.

But all this is miserable wit and worse philosophy. It exhibits that passion for the gratification of a pampered appetite, which is beneath those who claim to be so far above us, and may justly be placed on a par with the policy of the slaveholder, who says that men will be better slaves, if they are not permitted to learn to read.

But all this is miserable wit and even worse philosophy. It shows a desire to satisfy an indulged appetite, which is beneath those who claim to be so far above us. It may fairly be compared to the policy of the slaveholder who says that men will be better slaves if they are not allowed to learn to read.

In spite, however, of the obstacles which impede the progress of women towards that state of high mental cultivation for which her Creator prepared her, the tendency towards the universal dissemination of knowledge has had its influence on their destinies; and in all ages, a few have surmounted every hindrance, and proved, beyond dispute, that they have talents equal to their brethren.

Women face obstacles to achieving the high level of intellectual development for which their Creator prepared them. Yet the growing spread of knowledge has influenced their destinies. In every age, a few women have overcome every obstacle. They have proved beyond doubt that their talents equal those of men.

Cornelia, the daughter of Scipio Africanus, was distinguished for virtue, learning and good sense. She wrote and spoke with uncommon elegance and purity. Cicero and Quinctilian bestow high praise upon her letters, and the eloquence of her children was attributed to her careful superintendence. This reminds me of a remark made by my brother, Thomas S. Grimke, when speaking of the importance of women being well educated, that ‘educated men would never make educated women, but educated women would make educated men.’ I believe the sentiment is correct, because if the wealth of latent intellect among women was fully evolved and improved, they would rejoice to communicate to their sons all their own knowledge, and inspire them with desires to drink from the fountain of literature.

Cornelia, the daughter of Scipio Africanus, was known for her virtue, learning, and good sense. She wrote and spoke with unusual elegance and clarity. Cicero and Quinctilian praised her letters highly. Her children’s eloquence was attributed to her careful guidance. This reminds me of a remark by my brother, Thomas S. Grimke. Speaking about the importance of women’s education, he said, ‘educated men would never make educated women, but educated women would make educated men.’ I believe he was right. If women’s vast, hidden intellectual abilities were fully developed and strengthened, they would gladly share all their knowledge with their sons. They would inspire their sons to seek knowledge from the fountain of literature.

I pass over many interesting proofs of the intellectual powers of women; but I must not omit glancing at the age of chivalry, which has been compared to a golden thread running through the dark ages. During this remarkable era, women who, before this period, had been subject to every species of oppression and neglect, were suddenly elevated into deities, and worshipped with a mad fanaticism. It is not improbable, however, that even the absurdities of chivalry were beneficial to women, as it raised them from that extreme degradation to which they had been condemned, and prepared the way for them to be permitted to enjoy some scattered rays from the sun of science and literature. As the age of knight-errantry declined, men began to take pride in learning, and women shared the advantages which this change produced. ‘Women preached in public, supported controversies, published and defended theses, filled the chairs of philosophy and law, harangued the popes in Latin, wrote Greek and read Hebrew. Nuns wrote poetry, women of rank became divines, and young girls publicly exhorted Christian princes to take up arms for the recovery of the holy sepulchre. Hypatia, daughter of Theon of Alexandria, succeeded her father in the government of the Platonic school, and filled with reputation a seat, where many celebrated philosophers had taught. The people regarded her as an oracle, and magistrates consulted her in all important cases. No reproach was ever uttered against the perfect purity of her manners. She was unembarrassed in large assemblies of men, because their admiration was tempered with the most scrupulous respect. In the 13th century, a young lady of Bologna pronounced a Latin oration at the age of twenty-three. At twenty-six, she took the degree of doctor of laws, and began publicly to expound Justinian. At thirty, she was elevated to a professor’s chair, and taught the law to a crowd of scholars from all nations. Italy produced many learned and gifted women, among whom, perhaps none was more celebrated than Victoria Colonna, Marchioness of Pescara. In Spain, Isabella of Rosera converted Jews by her eloquent preaching;’ and in England the names of many women, from Lady Jane Gray down to Harriet Martineau, are familiar to every reader of history. Of the last mentioned authoress, Lord Brougham said that her writings on political economy were doing more good than those of any man in England. There is a contemporary of Harriet Martineau, who has recently rendered valuable services to her country. She presented a memorial to Parliament, stating the dangerous parts of the coast, where light-houses were needed, and at her suggestion, several were erected. She keeps a life-boat and sailors in her pay, and has been the means of saving many lives. Although she has been deprived of the use of her limbs since early childhood, yet even when the storm is unusually severe, she goes herself on the beach in her carriage, that she may be sure her men perform their duty. She understands several languages, and is now engaged in writing a work on the Northern languages of Europe. ‘In Germany, the influence of women on literature is considerable, though less obvious than in some other countries. Literary families frequently meet at each others’ houses, and learned and intelligent women are often the brightest ornaments of these social circles.’ France has produced many distinguished women, whose names are familiar to every lover of literature. And I believe it is conceded universally, that Madame de Stael was intellectually the greatest woman that ever lived. The United States have produced several female writers, some of whom have talents of the highest order. But women, even in this free republic, do not enjoy all the intellectual advantages of men, although there is a perceptible improvement within the last ten or twenty years; and I trust there is a desire awakened in my sisters for solid acquirements, which will elevate them to their ‘appropriate sphere,’ and enable them to ‘adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.’

I will pass over many interesting proofs of women’s intellectual powers. But I must briefly consider the age of chivalry, which has been compared to a golden thread running through the dark ages. Before this remarkable era, women had suffered every kind of oppression and neglect. Suddenly, they were raised to the status of goddesses and worshipped with mad fanaticism. Yet even the absurdities of chivalry were probably beneficial to women. Chivalry raised them from the extreme degradation to which they had been condemned. It also prepared the way for them to enjoy a few scattered rays from the sun of science and literature. As the age of knight-errantry declined, men began to take pride in learning. Women shared in the benefits of this change. ‘Women preached in public, took part in controversies, and published and defended theses. They held professorships in philosophy and law, addressed popes in Latin, wrote Greek, and read Hebrew. Nuns wrote poetry, women of rank became theologians, and young girls publicly urged Christian princes to take up arms to recover the holy sepulchre. Hypatia, daughter of Theon of Alexandria, succeeded her father as head of the Platonic school. She earned a fine reputation in a position where many celebrated philosophers had taught. The people regarded her as an oracle, and magistrates consulted her on all important matters. No one ever questioned the perfect purity of her conduct. She was at ease in large assemblies of men, because their admiration was tempered by the most scrupulous respect. In the 13th century, a young woman of Bologna gave a Latin speech at the age of twenty-three. At twenty-six, she earned a doctorate in law and began publicly explaining Justinian’s laws. At thirty, she was appointed a professor and taught law to crowds of scholars from all nations. Italy produced many learned and gifted women. Perhaps none was more celebrated than Victoria Colonna, Marchioness of Pescara. In Spain, Isabella of Rosera converted Jews through her eloquent preaching.’ In England, every reader of history knows the names of many women, from Lady Jane Gray to Harriet Martineau. Lord Brougham said that Martineau’s writings on political economy were doing more good than those of any man in England. A contemporary of Harriet Martineau has recently rendered valuable services to her country. She submitted a petition to Parliament identifying dangerous parts of the coast where lighthouses were needed. At her suggestion, several were built. She pays for a lifeboat and sailors, and has helped save many lives. Although she has been unable to use her limbs since early childhood, she goes to the beach in her carriage even during unusually severe storms. She goes to make sure her men perform their duty. She understands several languages and is now writing a work on the Northern languages of Europe. ‘In Germany, women have considerable influence on literature, though it is less obvious than in some other countries. Literary families often visit one another, and learned and intelligent women are often the brightest ornaments of these social circles.’ France has produced many distinguished women whose names are familiar to every lover of literature. And I believe everyone agrees that Madame de Stael was intellectually the greatest woman who ever lived. The United States has produced several female writers, some of whom have talents of the highest order. But even in this free republic, women do not enjoy all the intellectual advantages men enjoy. There has, however, been noticeable improvement in the last ten or twenty years. I trust that a desire for solid learning has awakened in my sisters. Such learning will elevate them to their ‘appropriate sphere’ and enable them to ‘adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.’

Thine in the bonds of womanhood,

Yours in the bond of womanhood,