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VOL. 8, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Rethinking female education in Jane Austen: Domestic ideology and feminist critique
Authors
Dr. Manisha Chhotray
Abstract
This paper explores the representation of female education in the
novels of Jane Austen—Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield
Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion. Situated within the
socio-cultural framework of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century
England, women’s education was largely confined to “accomplishments” designed
to prepare them for marriage rather than intellectual independence. Austen
reflects this framework while subtly critiquing its limitations. Through her
female characters, she reveals tensions between societal expectations and
intellectual growth. The paper argues that Austen anticipates feminist concerns
regarding women’s autonomy and identity.
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Pages:244-246
How to cite this article:
Dr. Manisha Chhotray "Rethinking female education in Jane Austen: Domestic ideology and feminist critique". International Journal of Social Science and Humanities, Vol 8, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 244-246
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