Warehousing Girls, Part 3: Home Sweet Home

By Joanna Griffith

Last week we looked at some reasons for a girl to attend college. It is the usual thing in our culture, it allows a girl to further her education, and she can pursue a career from home or as a single woman. So why wouldn't a young lady attend college? Let's briefly consider some arguments in favor of a young woman staying home after graduation.

First, as many Christian young ladies would agree that their primary goal for much of life is to raise a family, they ought to focus on preparing for this calling. In justifying a college education, some parents argue that this will allow a girl to "fall back" on a career if she needs to make money or remains single. To do this, though, is to focus on the exception. Most women will marry and will mother children. Most women, if they are careful who they marry, will have reliable, supportive husbands, and will not need to work full-time jobs outside the home. Women are called to be "keepers at home". The passage in Titus 2 makes no qualification that this only applies to married women. A woman's place is in the home.

So many hear this and think, "What does a woman do when she's not taking care of a work-intensive family?" Once a girl graduates from high school, is she supposed to just sit around and wait for her father to bring "Mr. Right" through the front door?

While the idea of not going off to college may seem to yield a dreary, hopeless post-graduation life, there are many things a young woman can do. First, many ladies graduate high school while their siblings are quite young. Girls can stay home and help their mother with caring for the home and homeschooling the younger children. If her mother does not need extensive help at home, the young lady will likely have much time to devote to other pursuits. She can tutor students, help in a family business, babysit, care for the elderly, serve those in her church and community, run her own home or on-line business . . . the list goes on.

Perhaps a young woman has interest in pursuing higher education in a particular subject. Maybe she's always wanted to learn more about ancient history. Our modern age provides many opportunities for an individual to take college classes from home. A young lady can take a couple of classes on-line and still have time to work with her family. Generally, those who voice opposition to a young woman leaving home to attend college, still agree that women should be highly educated. But obtaining a good education need not include leaving home.

Additionally, young women are needed in families, and fail to fill those roles. One dear mother has told me of the great need for young women to serve as mother's helpers. This mother has six young children, and would be thrilled to have the frequent help of a young lady. Girls who are still in school, often cannot provide frequent, extended help. Sadly, she says, those girls who have graduated are typically focused on careers. They head off to college to pursue a career, forgetting those needs in the home.

So by staying at home, a young lady remains under the protection and authority of her father, prepares for marriage and motherhood, can pursue hobbies and interests, and can serve those around her.

For more on this issue, check out the following resources. Please note that I have not extensively reviewed all of these resources.

So Much More by Elizabeth and Anna Sofia Botkin (available from CHEC), Raising Maidens of Virtue by Stacy McDonald, In My Father's House by Tamara and Naomi Valine, and Ladies Against Feminism.

As we have briefly looked at these issues in the past few weeks, it is my prayer that you will consider these issues in light of what Scripture says. This is a divisive issue, but we must carefully follow God's calling. May He bless you as you seek to follow His will for your life in this area.