The Educated Woman: Minds, Bodies, and Women's Higher Education in Britain, Germany, and Spain, 1865–1914

In the concluding chapter, [Katharina Rowold] provides a thorough comparison of developments and debates in Britain, Germany, and Spain. Readers who skip to the conclusion will miss the detailed dissections of arguments by feminists and antifeminists, but they will readily grasp the key similarities and differences of such arguments in the three countries. Unfortunately, the Introduction of Rowold's book is far less useful. It is the most unevenly written section of the book and is burdened with a high level of repetition. There are other weaknesses in the structure of the book. Numerous subheadings and repetition cannot compensate for lapses in a clear line of reasoning. The varied sources and different historical developments in the three countries lead to inconsistencies in the text. For example, Rowold's thorough discussion of positions within the women's movement toward lesbianism is limited to the section on Germany. Religion plays a dominant role in the Spanish section, but is hardly mentioned elsewhere. But these are minor flaws. The Educated Woman is a significant comparative study that challenges us to reexamine the part played by both feminists and anti-feminists in the struggle for women's access to higher education. It is an important new source for both undergraduate and graduate courses.