Abstract By 1890, the, opening of colleges for women and the advent of coeducation had settled the issue of women' s access to higher education.
But another question remained unresolved: the purpose of a college education for women suggest that, despite the professional accomplishments of many educated women in the nineteenth century,.
social forces were at work to keep women's education focused on the enrichment of home and family.
A woman' s right to a professional career outside the home would not be recognized until the next century.