Studies On The Modern Female Education In The Nineteenth Century India

The 19~th century was the early stage of Indian social modernization.In this period, along with the changes in Indian political,economic,social and cultural fields,the situation of Indian women had been changed.The development of Indian female education in 19~th century was not only an important sign of women's changing status,but also a necessary condition to achieve the change of women's status.The main clues of this paper was the history of Indian female education in 19~th.The paper focused on the course of Indian female education in 19~th century,as well as its achievements and problems.The paper was divided into four parts:The first part reviewed the female education in late medieval India.First of all,the paper expatiated women's social status and living conditions in late medieval India, pointing out that women's subordinate status restricted their education;Secondly,it described the situation of female education at that time.Through the analysis we can concluded that the female education in late medieval India was a kind of zenana education.Its main purpose was to inculcate the traditional female values to them,in order to maintain the patriarchal social traditions.The second part elaborated the starting of Indian modern female education in the first half 19~th century.In this period,the modern education system was established,and the social reform movement started.Both of them provided conditions for the development of Indian female education.The establishment of female schools and the emergence of new elements in zenana education was the sign of modernity.The third part discussed the initial development of Indian female education in the second half of 19~th century.This development included three aspects:the establishment of various types of female schools,the change of zenana education,the changes in curriculum and teaching methods.In this period,female education was systematic and institutionalized,and it entered an era of real change.The last part analysed the development of Indian female education of the whole 19~th century,and summed up the achievements and problems of female education.