Throughout the 1300O to early 1700O, women fought for an education through literature and campaigns. However, the majority of men during the Renaissance era discredited the theory that claimed women could and should receive an education. As centuries advanced, the mainstream of menO perspectives progressively shifted.
During the early 1500O to the mid 1500O the opinions of men regarding this topic were very firm. For example, Castiglione, an intellectual man of royal blood strongly believed that women were capable of accomplishing the same things as men.
He expressed his believes in court, in front of nobility. CastiglioneO purpose was to inform the decision makers of the society that everyone needs an education regardless of sex. However, Erasmus, another man of nobility discredited the thought that women should receive an education through speeches and books. Erasmus had rigid ideas as did Louise Labe, a French Poet who demonstrated her opinions in a letter to a Pen Pal. She claims that women are surely competent enough to be educated. Clearly, the opinions regarding womenO rights during this time period were all firm believes.
Throughout the 1500O to early 1600O, the views of the men and women of the European society drastically changed. The views were not as firm as they once had been and the ideas became much more Diverse. Martin Luther, writer of Table Talk, Distinctly declared that a womanO body was built to stay at home while menO stature was made for learning. Edmund Auger also discredited women by claiming that they could never facilitate a manO job. Unlike those who simply stated that women shouldnO receive an education, Theodore Agrippa D Aubigne thought women could learn, but it would not be wise for them to do so. Still, women like Marie Dentiere believed that women should learn to read and write so that they can express themselves when God speaks to them.
Another royal man known as Roger Ascham, teacher and advisor of Queen Elizabeth I, seemed to think that only noble Women could learn. The perspectives during this time were certainly different from those of early years.
During the later years of the 1600O to early 1700O, the ideas regarding womenO place in society change once again. The ideas during this time period were similar to those during the early 1500O to mid 1500O. John Milton, a Priest was once heard at church preaching that only men need to be well educated for they are the back-bone of the family. Like MiltonO strong believes regarding this subject, in a play written by Moliere, the impression is given that women can learn, but shouldnO because they already have enough on their minds.
Sir Josiah Child, an upper class member, declared that Arithmetic is the only thing women need to become familiar with. The ideas that troubled the men of this age were very much alike the oneO for the period of the early 1500O to the mid 1500O.
Apparently, the views of the people during the Renaissance swing like a pendulum. At first, the perspectives are firm and direct. However, they gradually shift to being less rigid and somewhat unorthodox. Soon, in about a century, the mainstream ideas rejuvenate.
The rights of women seem to stay the same, during these eras, neither improving nor degenerating. .
