The
educated woman of the 1920s
Madam Chia Kim Lian with one of her children.
-- Methodist Church Archives picture.
The
educated woman of the 1920s
'THE woman of half a century
ago was a woman with brains, heart and hands, capable of doing
just as much as the woman of today, but she was not at liberty
to pick and choose her special life-work. Housekeeping and caring
for her family were her only work. Besides these she had nothing
to occupy her mind …
Her school was her home; and her teachers were her mother and
her superiors in the family circle. Her subjects for study were
washing and sweeping, plain cooking for every day and special
dishes for birthdays, New Year sacrifices to the idols, plain
sewing and embroidery in silk and beads on belts and slippers.
Paying ceremonial respects to elders was always taught, and preparation
for the wedding was the final part of her education.
After marriage, the woman was given the liberty of going into
society that meant going to weddings, attending funerals and paying
visits to the temples of the many deities. On the second and fourth
days of the Chinese New Year, she made special visits to the homes
of her parents and nearest relatives. Her duty was to serve tables
and to pay close attention to the wants of all her elders.
In contrast, the woman of today has many opportunities and responsibilities
- of attending school and being taught by qualified teachers.
Under their careful discipline, and in contact with missionaries
interested in her welfare, she has the chance to grow up to be
an orderly and well-educated woman.
Having passed the examinations - Standard Seven, Cambridge Junior
and Senior - she can aspire to join the Medical School, the Normal
Teachers' Training Class and the Commercial School. When they
are through with their training, these girls take up their respective
life-work each giving her best, and thus doing much good in helping
the women around her.
With all her training mentally and physically, she still sees
that home-making and the bringing up of children is not a work
to be despised. As a married woman she gets the chance of knowing
more about life and its problems, and has the opportunity to render
service to those in need, a service of equal importance with that
of her doctor, teacher or business sister may do.
She has the opportunity to teach her neighbour sister who may
not have had the same opportunities as she herself. She may show
her how to care for and feed her children and how to keep her
home in a sanitary way … and strive to improve the conditions
in the community in which she lives. She need not be shut off
from the larger world. Her education has made it possible for
her to read books and magazines, to know and to follow with intelligent
interest many things that are going on in the world.
The woman of today has many responsibilities. She is responsible
for the welfare of other women about her, socially and religiously.
In society, a mother likes to watch her daughters' manners and
tastes that speak for her. If she has some quality that influences
for the good, the number of followers increases; if her influence
is bad, she loses her hold upon those who live and respect her
… The woman of today should make the best of her opportunities
by acting modestly at home and in society.
As a Christian, she will find that she has more responsibilities
than her non-Christian sister has, and should all the more be
careful in the use of her rights. The majority of mothers are
still ignorant of the valuable qualities of Christianity, but
they are always keen to know more of the all-loving and all-divine
power which seems to rule over the lives of Christian men and
women.
Therefore, let the woman of today, as a true Christian, present
to her neighbours the true ornament of Christian womanhood which,
as described in 1 Peter 3:4, is "a meek and quiet spirit",
and is expressed in "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self control". (Gal.5:22-23).'
- MM, June 1920, pages 56-57, edited.
QUOTE:
'As a Christian, the woman of today will find that she has more responsibilities than her non-Christian sister has, and should all the more be careful in the use of her rights. The majority of mothers are still ignorant of the valuable qualities of Christianity, but they are always keen to know more of the all-loving and all-divine power which seems to rule over the lives of Christian men and women.'
-- Madam Chia Kim Lian in a talk on the educated woman.