Learning shortfall

But for the most part, women are not educated as they should be, I mean those of quality; oft their education is only to dance, sing, and fiddle, to write complimental letters, to read romances, to speak some languages that is not their native . their parents take more care of their feet than their head, more of their words than their reason.

Woman of letters and scientist Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle (c.1624-74), from Sociable Letters (1664). She published under her own name at a time when most female writers published anonymously.