"The sum and substance of female education in America, as in England, is training women to consider marriage as the sole object in life, and to pretend that they do not think so"

This quote by Harriet Martineau speaks with the limited expectations placed on women in both America and England. It recommends that females are taught to prioritize marriage as their primary goal in life, while likewise being anticipated to deny that this is the case. This suggests that ladies are anticipated to conform to societal norms and expectations, while also being anticipated to deny that they are doing so. This quote speaks to the restricted chances readily available to females in the 19th century, and the pressure to conform to traditional gender roles. It also speaks to the lack of autonomy and freedom of choice that women had in this period. This quote functions as a pointer of the development that has been made in terms of gender equality, and the value of continuing to pursue higher equality and autonomy for all.