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Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia - First Woman in the World to Earn a Doctoral Degree
Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia was the first woman to receive a doctoral degree anywhere in the world. She was awarded a Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Padua in Italy. This is a significant figure in Adult Education, because she started paving the way for women to obtain degrees from higher education institutions. -
Judith Sargent Murray - Early Feminist and Writer
Judith Sargent Murray A member of the Republican Motherhood, she published articles regarding the equality of the sexes and proposition for educating women. She was the first woman to open write that the daily lives of women did not offer enough mental stimulation and needed education to be more productive members of society. -
Republican Motherhood
Republican Motherhood The aim of this group was the role of educating children to be more productive members of society, however the role of educating fell to their mothers, many of which were illerate. This was a movement to help women seek adult education in order to better prepare their children for the future. *Note - in this time period boys were educated in academics and girls were educated in domestic tasks. -
Female Seminary Movement
This movement was aimed at starting schools for women that were equal to those available to men. Some seminaries were only available to people who could pay tuition. Their curriculum focused on both academics and social graces. What is special about this movement is these female seminaries were often started and managed by women educators, such as Sarah Pierce, Catherine Beecher, and Mary Lyon. This is the first time women were controlling the adult learning in the education field. -
Godey's Lady Book
Started in 1830 the magazine promoted all sorts of women’s interests such as hygiene, recipes, arts and crafts. But when Sarah Hale became editor in 1836 the content changed dramatically to correcting social inequalities and promoting education for women. This is significant because education was being promoted in nationwide magazines, making it more socially acceptable to be educated. -
Oberlin College Goes Co-Educational
Oberlin College opens the first co-educational collegiate institution in the United States, The first group of women to enroll received diplomas in ladies courses, but four women joined the Collegiate department in 1837 and graduated in 1841. This is a significant event because it was the first opportunity men and women had to learn together in the college experience. -
Catherine Brewer - First Woman to Graduate in the US
Catherine Brewer - First Woman to Graduate in the USA Catherine Brewer is one of 11 women that graduated from Wesleyan University in 1840. She made history simply because she was first in alphabetical order to recieve her degree. She is significant because she, and her 11 classmates, paved the way for women in the USA to get degrees in higher education. -
Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell - First Woman to Graduate from Medical School
Elizabeth Blackwell Dr.Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman in the United States to receive a doctoral degree in medicine, awarded from Geneva College in 1849. She is also the first female on the medical registrar in the United Kingdom. This is a significant figure because she paved the way for women in the medical field and later opened her own teaching facility for women to gain medical degrees. -
Mary Jane Patterson - First African American Woman to Graduate College
Mary Jane Patterson Mary Jane Patterson is the first African American woman to receive a bachelor's degree in the US. After years of teaching she became the first African American principal in 1871. -
Alpha Sigma Alpha
Alpha Sigma Alpha 1901 - Alpha Sigma Alpha is formed by five women in Farmville, VA. While this is not the first sorority in the US, it is the sorority I belong to so it has significant impact on adult learning for me. Sister organizations like this create a safe and open environment for women learners. They promote philanthropy, friendship, scholarship, and femininity. -
Helen Keller - Deafblind American to Graduate with a Bachelor's Degree
Helen Keller Helen Keller was the first deafblind American to earn a bachelor degree from Radcliffe College in 1904. She spent the rest of her life being a suffragist, an advocate for people with disabilities, and a guest lecturer. She encouraged disabled Americans to peruse advanced degrees. -
Margaret Sanger - Birth Control Advocate
In 1916, Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in Brownsville, Brooklyn to provide information on birth control for women. Sanger a hard-core advocate for women's rights believed that women were hindered by the burden of unwanted pregnancies and at a health risk due to multiple children. Margaret's planned conception ideology made it possible for women to reach for career and educational pursuits without being hindered by having and raising children. -
Federal Woman's Suffrage Amendement Ratified
1920 – The women’s suffrage amendment is ratified giving women the right to vote. This had significant impact on women in adult education because women were beginning to gain equality within the US and this legalized their presence and voting power on political issues. This right most likely increased a female presence in politics, law, and economics which meant more need for adult education in these fields. -
Mary McLeod Bethune, Educational Leader and Civil Rights Activist
Mary McLeod Bethune - African American Education and Civil Rights Leader Mary McLeod Bethune, served as president to the Bethune-Cookman College, an co-educational African American college in which she founded and served as president to the National Council of Negro women. Her life was dedicated to improving education and equal rights from African Americans. -
Formation of Seven Sisters Colleges
These colleges were created to parallel the Ivy League universities, which were largely men only. These colleges were intended to provide equal Ivy League education for women. Colleges included Mount Holyoke College, Vassar College, Wellesley College, Smith College, Radcliffe College, Bryn Mawr College, Barnard College. This gave women the opportunity to receive equal education. -
Planned Parenthood Federation of America Formed
Margaret Sangers Birth Control Clinics were still controversial but other leaders in the birth control initiative changed the name to Planned Parenthood to remove a negative stigma on the prevention of pregnancy. Even though other serious ethical and racial issues existed in the birth control front, the creation of a safe space for pregnancy prevention made female reproductive health made it easier for woman to pursue a career and education. -
Betty Friedan - The Feminine Mystique
Betty Friedan In 1963, after years of research, Betty Friedan published The Feminine Mystique, detailing the suppression of middle-class housewives and the social restrictions they endure. The books popularity started a new wave of feminism. Betty is significant figure in adult education because her book inspired many housewives to seek an education to empower their lives. -
Equal Pay Act
Equal Pay ActThe Equal Pay Act, signed into law by JFK, making it illegal to discriminate against women by paying them a lesser wage for the same job prerformed by men. With the possibility of equality in pay, women were able to advance in the workplace. To increase job knowledge and skillsets this most likely increased the need for adult education to allow them to perform equal work. -
NOW - National Organization for Women Formed
NOW - National Organization for Women TThe National Organization for Women "NOW" is a national organization whose mission involve equal rights for women through education and litigation. Organizations like this are strong advocates for women, working toward equality, provide educational opportunities for women in suppressed communities, and awareness for issues important to women. -
Tile IX Education Amendments bans Sex Discrimination in schools.
Per the title IX Educational Amendments of 1972 "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." As a result more women both undergraduate and graduate, and female athletes return to school. -
The Violence Against Women Act
Violence Against Women Act passed in 1994 tightens federal penalties for sex offenders and funds services for victims of rape, domestic violence, and provides special training of police officers. This much needed training for police officers increased sensitivity and awareness on how to handle cases of rape and domestic violence against women. Second, some women that may be stuck in violent situations, or victimized, may now have the chance to improve their lives through education. -
Ruth Simmons - First African American President of an Ivy League University - Brown University
Bio for Ruth J. Simmons After a long and illustrious career in Adult Education, Ruth J. Simmons became the first African American President of an Ivy League University. In the US the Ivy league schools are considered the elite institutions, and for the first time in history an African American woman took control. This is a significant figure for racial diversity in an elite university setting. -
Nola Ochs - Oldest Women in the World to Gaduate from a University
Nola Ochs Nola Ochs received her bachelor degree from Fort Hays State University at the age of 95. She then completed her Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies at the age of 98. Nola is a significant figure in adult edcuation because she proved a lifetime of learning has no age limit.
