Bluestockings : the remarkable story of the first women to fight for an education

In 1869 Emily Davies signed the lease on a house in the small market town of Hitchin, and made history. In years to come, she would be joined by others and would move to larger accommodation in Girton, nearer to the town of Cambridge. But at first there were only five young women in her care: the first women ever to study a degree course at an English university. At the time, the average female brain was thought to be 150 grams lighter than a man's, and the country's leading doctors warned that if women studied too hard their wombs would wither and die. Almost thirty years later, when the Cambridge Senate held a vote on whether women students should be allowed official membership of the university, there was a full-scale riot. Despite the prejudice and the terrible sacrifices they faced, women from all backgrounds - from well-read debutantes bored by domesticity to hard-working servants from impoverished families - persevered and paved the way for the generations who have followed them since. By 1900 sixteen per cent of all students were women, studying at universities throughout Britain; by the 1920s, being an 'undergraduette' was considered quite the fashionable thing; by the 1930s, women were emerging from universities as anything from aviation engineers to professional academics. Using the words of the women themselves, Bluestockings tells their inspiring story - a story of defiance and determination, of colourful eccentricity and at times heartbreaking loneliness, as well as of passionate friendships, midnight cocoa-parties and glorious self-discovery. The Incredible True Story Of The Fight For Female Education In Britain In 1869, When Five Women Enrolled At University For The First Time In British History, The Average Female Brain Was Thought To Be 150 Grams Lighter Than A Man's. Doctors Warned That If Women Studied Too Hard Their Wombs Would Wither And Die. When The Cambridge Senate Held A Vote On Whether Women Should Be Allowed Membership, There Was A Full-scale Riot. Despite The Prejudice And The Terrible Sacrifices They Faced, Women From All Backgrounds Persevered And Paved The Way For The Generations Who Have Followed Them Since. By The 1920s, Being An 'undergraduette' Was Considered Quite The Fashionable Thing; By The 1930s, Women Were Emerging From Universities As Anything From Aviation Engineers To Professional Academics. Bluestockings Tells An Inspiring Story - Of Defiance And Determination, Of Colourful Eccentricity And At Times Heartbreaking Loneliness, As Well As Of Passionate Friendships, Midnight Cocoa-parties And Glorious Self-discovery. *** 'social History Of The Best Kind' Sunday Times 'modern Girls Need Reminding Of The Long Battle, And Jane Robinson's Fine Book Does Just That, Charting The Lives And Struggles Of Campaigners . . . But There Is More Joy Than Sorrow' Mail On Sunday In 1869, when five women enrolled at university for the first time in British history, the average female brain was thought to be 150 grams lighter than a man's. Doctors warned that if women studied too hard their wombs would wither and die. When the Cambridge Senate held a vote on whether women students should be allowed official membership of the university, there was a full-scale riot.Despite the prejudice and the terrible sacrifices they faced, women from all backgrounds persevered and paved the way for the generations who have followed them since. By the 1920s, being an 'undergraduette' was considered quite the fashionable thing; by the 1930s, women were emerging from universities as anything from aviation engineers to professional academics.Using the words of the women themselves, Bluestockings tells their inspiring story – a story of defiance and determination, of colourful eccentricity and at times heartbreaking loneliness, as well as of passionate friendships, midnight cocoa-parties and glorious self-discovery. The incredible story of the fight for female education in Britain In 1869, when five women enrolled at university for the first time in British history, the average female brain was thought to be 150 grams lighter than a man's. When the Cambridge Senate held a vote on whether women students should be allowed official membership of the university, there was a full-scale riot. Despite the prejudice and the terrible sacrifices they faced, women from all backgrounds persevered and paved the way for the generations who have followed them since. Bluestockings tells an inspiring story - of defiance and determination, of colourful eccentricity and at times heartbreaking loneliness, as well as of passionate friendships, midnight cocoa-parties and glorious self-discovery. 'Social history of the best kind' Sunday Times 'Modern girls need reminding of the long battle, and Jane Robinson's fine book does just that, charting the lives and struggles of campaigners' Mail on Sunday Jane Robinson's Bluestockings is the incredible story of the fight for female education in Britain. In 1869, when five women enrolled at university for the first time in British history, the average female brain was thought to be 150 grams lighter than a man's. Doctors warned that if women studied too hard their wombs would wither and die. When the Cambridge Senate held a vote on whether women students should be allowed official membership of the university, there was a full-scale riot. Despite the prejudice and the terrible sacrifices they faced, women from all backgrounds persevered and paved the way for the generations who have followed them since. By the 1920s, being an 'undergraduette' was considered quite the fashionable thing; by the 1930s, women were emerging from universities as anything from aviation engineers to professional academics. Bluestockings tells an inspiring story - of defiance and... They Eye-opening And Inspiring Story Of The Young Women Who Overcame All Odds To Get Their Education. Using The Words Of The Women Themselves, This Book Tells Of Their Defiance And Determination, Of Colourful Eccentricity And At Times Heartbreaking Loneliness. Chronology: Landmark Dates In The History Of Higher Education For Women In England -- 1. Ingenious And Learned Ladies -- 2. Working In Hope -- 3. Invading Academia -- 4. Most Abhorred Of All Types -- 5. What To Do If You Catch Fire -- 6. Freshers -- 7. Women's Sphere -- 8. Blessed Work -- 9. Spear Fishing And Other Pursuits -- 10. Shadows -- 11. Breeding White Elephants. Jane Robinson. Includes Bibliographical Reference(p {241}-252 ) And Index. Robinson presents the eye-opening and inspiring story of the first young women who overcame all the odds to get their education and attend university. Using the words of the women themselves, 'Bluestockings' charts the fight for and expansion of higher education for women from 1869 through to the 1930s.