“From a child I was found of reading, and all the little money that came into my hands was ever laid out in books” (Franklin, Pg.9). Words coming from a man who made an impact in the history of the United States. He was a political scientist, scholar as electricity and attracted interest, inventor of the lightning rod and other useful artifacts. An honest man who was also efficient in public and the leading architect of the independence of the Unites States. Benjamin Franklin was perhaps the most beloved figure of his time at home and the only American in the British colonial era who achieved fame and notoriety in Europe. In this autobiography Benjamin Franklin talks about gender, though his own experience. Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston
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In his writings Franklin often disputed politics and books with another “bookish lad” by the name of John Collins. One of their arguments speaks directly about women during the 1700’s. “A question was once, somehow or other, started between Collins and me, of the propriety of educating the female sex in learning, and their abilities for study. He was of opinion that it was improper…” (Franklin, pg. 11.) Collins shared the same opinion that many men of the 1700’s has about women. At the time, it was understood that education and teaching was not to be wasted on women. Collins states that it wasn’t only a waste, it was also improper. Benjamin Franklin said, “I took to the contrary side, perhaps a little for dispute's sake.” (Franklin, Pg11.) Which is of great importance. He goes against the general population, whether by choice or simply for the sake of argument. When he states that it was perhaps “a little for disputes sake”, he leaves room for the reader to assume that he agreed that women should receive education. The fact that Franklin promotes their educational well-being at all is a big step and is of …show more content…
Women weren’t able to perform the duties of a man. During Benjamins sailing from Philadelphia, he had to stop at Burlington where he meet an old woman which helped him and gave him food and offered her humble house. “She invited me to lodge at her house till a passage by water should offer; and being tired with my foot traveling….” (Franklin, Pg.18). The old woman sale gingerbread to make some money to leave. Franklyn mentioned the life that this old women had in order to let the audience know about what woman had to do during this time to live. Another topic that Benjamin Franklin shares in his autobiography are the types of men that work in the printer house while he is living in London. He mentioned that “working at press, imagining I felt a want of the bodily exercise I had been us'd to in America...” (Franklin, Pg.34) Most man who work with him were “great guzzlers of beer”. They thought that drinking a beer would give them more energy instead of just a glass of water. Benjamin Franklin disagreed with the idea of drinking a beer, instead he preferred a glass of water since he thought it was healthier. By reading this, the audience is able to relate gender as the men who were recognized as male chauvinist in during this
In his writings Franklin often disputed politics and books with another “bookish lad” by the name of John Collins. One of their arguments speaks directly about women during the 1700’s. “A question was once, somehow or other, started between Collins and me, of the propriety of educating the female sex in learning, and their abilities for study. He was of opinion that it was improper…” (Franklin, pg. 11.) Collins shared the same opinion that many men of the 1700’s has about women. At the time, it was understood that education and teaching was not to be wasted on women. Collins states that it wasn’t only a waste, it was also improper. Benjamin Franklin said, “I took to the contrary side, perhaps a little for dispute's sake.” (Franklin, Pg11.) Which is of great importance. He goes against the general population, whether by choice or simply for the sake of argument. When he states that it was perhaps “a little for disputes sake”, he leaves room for the reader to assume that he agreed that women should receive education. The fact that Franklin promotes their educational well-being at all is a big step and is of …show more content…
Women weren’t able to perform the duties of a man. During Benjamins sailing from Philadelphia, he had to stop at Burlington where he meet an old woman which helped him and gave him food and offered her humble house. “She invited me to lodge at her house till a passage by water should offer; and being tired with my foot traveling….” (Franklin, Pg.18). The old woman sale gingerbread to make some money to leave. Franklyn mentioned the life that this old women had in order to let the audience know about what woman had to do during this time to live. Another topic that Benjamin Franklin shares in his autobiography are the types of men that work in the printer house while he is living in London. He mentioned that “working at press, imagining I felt a want of the bodily exercise I had been us'd to in America...” (Franklin, Pg.34) Most man who work with him were “great guzzlers of beer”. They thought that drinking a beer would give them more energy instead of just a glass of water. Benjamin Franklin disagreed with the idea of drinking a beer, instead he preferred a glass of water since he thought it was healthier. By reading this, the audience is able to relate gender as the men who were recognized as male chauvinist in during this