The Female and Folk Enlightenment: Work for the People

Authors

• Tarja Lang Espoon työväenopisto

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate, using gender-sensitive approach and dense description technique, how gender was built in certain cultural historical texts from approximately 1840 to 1950. In the examination, attention was paid to the history of the adult education centres from the gender perspective. Interpretation of selected historical texts showed that the ideological ground emphasizing equality in liberal adult education was built into the masculine direction. The 19th century Snellman-Hegel polarization ideal, emphasizing differences between genders, was carried on primarily in standardized interpretations written by males far into the mid-20th century. They constructed the context of the institutions of liberal adult education, including the adult education centres in Finland. Active social female organization from 1850 to around 1900 and related education requirements were instead canalized elsewhere in the Finnish history writing. The female writers formulated biography writings and philosophy of life texts through various female organizations, voluntary associations and societies. In the folk enlightenment historical writings, the female was all-round educated, first as an ethical and obedient mother citizen in the interest of the nation. Starting from approximately 1920, the object was the female labour. The texts constructing the ideological context of the adult education centres focused on the propagation of masculine enlightenment rhetoric targeted at male citizens; the status and education of the female was stifled.