British Literature Survey
Reference Pages: Virginia Woolf Group

Female Education in 20th Century Britain
by Tiffany Waddell

In twentieth century Britain, the educational standards for women dramatically increased. No longer were girls expected to marry at a young age, have children, and keep house; in fact, a revolution was upon Britain, encouraging women to explore their own destinies in education (Murray). However, it was the Women’s Suffrage campaign that paved the way for women to enter into new professions and higher education, (Chapman and Manson 61). The emergence of women in advanced educational institutions allowed for women to gain respect and knowledge of the world they lived in. Soon, women sought jobs that offered substance and fulfillment to fuel their educational achievements. By allowing women to attend more universities, women actively pursued opportunities in new markets such as business, marketing, and medicine, instead of focusing solely on matters of the home (Martin 35). Most importantly, women recognized their pursuit to create their own future; instead of feeling trapped in a specific place within society, women were able to break the barriers of social stigmas and reach educational and professional goals (Byers). Women’s suffrage and women’s rights are two influential movements that allowed women to economically, socially, and personally grow within British society. Educating women in the twentieth century was the first step towards equality for Britain.

Works Cited

Byers, Nina . "Overview on Women's Education in England and the United States 1600-1900." CWP/Women's Learning 04 Dec 1999. 01 Feb 2006 < http://www.physics.ucla.edu/cwp/hist/Wl.html.

Chapman and Manson. Women in the Milieu of Leonard and Virgina Wolf. New York: Pace University Press, 1998.

Martin, Jane. Women and Education. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillian, 2004.

Murray, Jenni. "20th Century Britain: The Women's Hour." Society and Culture 01 Jan 2001. 01 Feb 2006. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history.

Paul Marchbanks
marchban@email.unc.edu