Meanwhile, the Secondary Education of women having succeeded, the higher education was attempted. When the University Local Examinations were commenced, they were opened to girls as well as to boys, to women as well as to men. They soon proved that they were able to take advantage of their opportunities. Strong efforts were made in many quarters to have them admitted to the Universities on equal terms with men. Failing this, there were strenuous attempts made to secure, at least, the education, if not the other privileges of a University career.
The earliest University Classes for Women were opened in Edinburgh in the winter of 1867-8, when 265 women enrolled themselves as students in Professor Masson’s class on English Literature alone. In 1868-9, three branches of the Arts Curriculum were offered in Literature, Natural Philosophy, and Logic and Mental Philosophy; opportunities which spread until the whole field was covered. In October, 1869, Hitchin Temporary College was opened for women in similar connection with Cambridge University. In 1873, the Oxford Association for the Education of Women took shape. In 1876, Glasgow and St. Andrews joined the work, and other opportunities all over the country had to be arranged to meet the ever-increasing demand.
The first University to grant degrees to women on equal terms was London, in the new Charter of 1878. As a non-teaching university, however, its gift of Degrees was limited by the opportunities opened to women of acquiring professional education in recognised colleges.
The Royal University of Ireland in Dublin opened in 1880, and in its original Charter grants equal terms for men and women; and the Victoria University in 1880, allowing women instruction and examination in some departments, granted Degrees where they had passed sufficient examinations.
In 1892, the Scotch Universities were opened simultaneously.
Durham offered, under certain conditions, to admit women, conditions not finally arranged, when it found by its Charter that it could not do so. Education is, however, granted women in the affiliated colleges of Newcastle, and Titles, if not Degrees, allowed.
Cambridge admits women to its examinations, grants them a recognised place, but no Degrees. Oxford examines them, but also excludes them from full privileges. [[x]].
In none of these Universities can women, either as Undergraduates or Graduates, vote for the University Member of Parliament. The same anomaly exists as existed in relation to a property qualification. The real qualification in a University is based upon attending certain classes, passing certain examinations, living under certain conditions, and paying certain fees. Women fulfil all these duties, but they do not, even from their Alma Mater, receive the same privilege as their brothers, on a University Qualification; because the Reform Bill of 1867, while granting it to all men on property qualification, by clause 5, limited it to “male persons in Universities.” It is possible that, after a little more of the Higher Education, it will be found that they have attained “an improved understanding,” enough to allow them even to vote by the side of the navvy and the pot-boy.
The twenty-six years have not been lost, however, even in regard to Women’s Suffrage. Meanwhile have been growing up young men and young women, educated under the broadening effect of more equal privileges in learning. The old restrictions seem to them meaningless in the new light of reason. A generous youth, in the older Universities, who has been beaten by a woman in a mathematical examination, feels his brow flush when he receives the reward that is denied to her, and feels shame instead of pride that he has to be protected against her competition. He would never dream of suggesting that she would “require an improved understanding to vote for a Parliament man.” In the youth of the country lies hope, if the youth be but trained aright.
The result of the educational opportunities has been to give women personal capability of entering professional life. But the Professions have certain powers of excluding competitors, and they have all done what they could to make entrance difficult or impossible. Women are now admitted to the Medical Profession. Several original professions they have invented for themselves, and they have done their best with the old. They have therefore gained new powers of acquiring property. Their energy and self-dependence have revolutionised the thoughts of men as regards their capability.