EX FEMINA LUX FRAUENBILDUNG ALS AUFGEKLÄRTE ALTERNATIVE UM 1700

Abstract

The first graduation of a woman in the German‐speaking countries took place in 1754 at the university of Halle and represents a milestone in the history of women's education. This graduation was part of a tradition, closely related to the philosophy that was prevalent in the early years of this first modern German university. Around 1700 a theory of women's education (influenced by Christian Thomasius and by one of his students or collaborators, who remained anonymous) emerged at the university of Halle which did not copy the existing male academic education, but was built upon new principles. The central principle was the requirement to conquer the world with one's own eyes and through one's own efforts, and not to adopt indiscriminately the results of other people's work. Women were considered to be very suited for this kind of education, since they had had no part in the old academic practice and therefore had not been ‘damaged” by it. Thus they became the avant‐garde of a pedagogy and of a scientific practice which was considered to be the paragon for male education. Subsequent generations very quickly forgot this first politically inspired women's movement which originated in the German‐speaking world and had political impllcations–in spite of its comprehensive theory. It is only the present generations that seem about to fulfil some of the requirements put forward in 1700.