Perils And Promise Kimmel Analysis

In one section of “Men and Women’s Studies: Premises, Perils, and Promise,” Michael Kimmel discusses how men have helped women to gain equal rights within the educational system (Kimmel, 26). He explains that as pro-feminists, men who made efforts to understand feminism and support women, as well as implement equal rights for women, realized the importance of women’s education (Kimmel, 26). According to his essay, many American men, as well as women, helped to create an educational system for women, which was seen as a “revolt” against inequality and the subordination of women (Kimmel, 26-27). Kimmel argues that pro-feminists tried to provide an opportunity for every woman to study; one such example is Henry Durant, an American pro-feminism activist, who established Wellesley College for

women (Kimmel, 26-27). Kimmel insists in his essay that the high education of women is one of the best ways to fight against the prioritization of men in order to achieve equal rights (Kimmel, 27).
I also strongly believe that women’s education was essential and was the key to attain equality for women. Women should be regarded as the same as men. To be seen equally, to be educated, and to stand on their own two feet was necessary. As a student who attended a girls’ school from elementary until junior high, I learned about women’s education as well as how my school was established. I think providing an opportunity for women consisted of a lot of hard work.
The school I attended, which is affiliated with Japan Women’s University, was opened in 1901.

This was about three decades after the Shogunate government, which was a reign that was responsible for protectionists, had collapsed. A lot of Japanese people were embarrassed by the huge change but soon rose up to create a “strong” country like European nations. My school’s founder, Jinzo Naruse, was one of the people who rose up. Naruse, as a pioneer, thought that women’s education was important in order for Japan to become a powerful nation. Women are the people who raise up their children, some of whom might become the future leaders of the country. Therefore, he decided to create the education system to have educated mothers. Before Naruse established the first women’s educational system in Japan, he visited the United States, a country with a strong women’s education system he wished to model. As I read Kimmel’s article, I felt the United States was truly developed in women’s education because many feminist supporters had already started their movement even before 1900s. I now understood why Naruse went abroad to the United States to learn about its women’s educational

system.
The girls-only school I attended taught us that as individuals and human beings, not as women, we should study hard in order to be the people who change the world. Regardless of gender, to speak up against a wrong decision is necessary; however, without education, we cannot determine what is right and what is wrong. Education is essential because it helps not only individuals but also society.
It is easy to follow leaders; on the other hand, it is extremely difficult to be the one who starts a new movement. This is not only because inventing new concepts is grinding toil, but also implementing change is challenging if many people have resolute ideas. Because of factors such as these, it was tough for pro-feminists to work active for women’s equality. I can understand why women gathered and worked for their rights because they were the people who suffered. However, it was unusual for men, those who were not suffering, to go “Against the Tide”- the title of Kimmel’s work- and join the group of women who were pursuing freedom from men’s restraint. It was likely challenging for the supporters not simply because they were fighting for someone else’s cause, but also because they broke the cultural norm of the time. There are not a lot of people who work for women’s right, still now. Because I was in all-girls school, when I imagine the word ‘feminists’, a group of girls and women shows up in my mind. After I read the reading, however, I realized that this was a stereotype. Those who helped women to get education broke the stereotype of women. Through education, the idea that “women just follow men’s decisions” was revised. I was impressed by the braveness of supportive men, who helped women to save themselves from their hopeless lives. Since they broke women free from their suffering, I think male activists should be honored as a symbol of the pro-feminists as well as the feminists.
The founder of my school established school for women. However, I feel it is important for girls to be educated with boys. When I had a discussion class for the first time in high school, a co-ed American high school, I realied that boys often have different opinion from girls toward a topic. For the first experience to hear boys’ voices, I felt it was interesting to know the different perspectives. To learn a variety ways of thinking leads us to think broadly and avoid stereotypes.
Education enables us to think deeply, analyze, and advance our ideas. Because a lot of brave men tried hard to establish schools, we now have the education for women. Since women have been educated, we are able to discuss with men, while standing on the same level. The first step of change needed courage. Now after going “Against the Tide”, women are able to be brave and spread the movement even further.