Probably the most educated and most famous woman of the century, the devoted Calvinist Anna Maria van Schurman excelled in art, music, and literature, becoming proficient in Latin, modern European languages, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, Syriac, Aramaic, and Ethiopian¹. Her parents were of the nobility, providing her with sufficient income that she neither had to marry nor to work. She never married, devoting herself at first to her learning, then to the care of her elderly aunts, and in the final years of her life, renouncing her intellectual accomplishments, to worship and religious study.

      Although women had been advocating for educational opportunity for two centuries, the idea of educational opportunities for women was still controversial in some circles. Indeed, a few women had even been speaking out about wider professional opportunities for women (Marinella, Sowernam, Tattlewell, de Gournay). Yet her idea, that women should be educated in all matters but should not use their education in professional activity or employment and it should not be allowed to interfere in their domestic duties, was still somewhat radical. After publication of Study, which was translated into French in 1646 and English in 1659, education for women became much less controversial.

      From Whether the Study of Letters Is Fitting for a Christian Woman?

      Arguments:

      I. Whoever is given by nature the first principles or the power of the principles of all arts and sciences is suited to study all arts and sciences: and to a woman these powers or principles are given by nature.

      II. Whoever by nature has a desire for sciences and arts is suited to study sciences and arts. And women by nature have a desire for arts and sciences.

      III. Whoever is created by God with sublime countenances and erect toward the heavens is suited for the knowledge and contemplation of things sublime and heavenly. But God created woman with sublime countenance and erect toward the heavens.

      IV. Whoever longs greatly for a solid and enduring occupation is suited for the study of letters. and woman longs greatly for a solid and enduring occupation.

      V. Whoever enjoys a more tranquil and free life is suited for the study of arts and sciences; and women for the most part enjoy a more tranquil and free life.

      VI. Whoever is fit for the study of the principal sciences is also fit for the study of instrumental or adjunct sciences.

      VII. Arts and sciences are fitting for those to whom all virtue in general is fitting.

      VIII. Whatever perfects and adorns the mind of man is fitting to a Christian woman.

      IX. Whatever by its nature contributes to exciting in us greater love and reverence for God is fitting for a Christian woman.

      X. Whatever fortifies us against heresies and discloses their traps is fitting for a Christian woman.

      XI. Those things which teach prudence without detriment to reputation and modesty are fitting to a Christian woman.

      XII. Whatever leads to true greatness of soul is fitting for a Christian woman.

      XIII. Whatever fills the mind of man with distinguished and honest delight is fitting for a Christian woman.

      XIV. To whomever ignorance is not fitting, the study of letters is fitting.

1. Wilson, 17th century, p. 166

Reference:

      Katharina M. Wilson and Frank J. Warnke (eds.), Women Writers of the Seventeenth Century [Athens: U. of Georgia Press, 1989] pp 164 - 185

      Anna Maria van Schurman, Whether a Christian Woman Should Be Educated and Other Writing from Her Intellectual Circle, ed and trans by Joyce Irwin as part of the series The Other Voice in Early Modern Europe, series editors Margaret L. King and Albert Rabil, Jr. University of Chicago Press, (to be published in 1999)

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