Jacoba van den Brande: Pioneer of Women’s Education

Episode Overview:

In this Flashcard Friday episode of Math! Science! History! host Gabrielle Birchak shines a light on the incredible story of Jacoba van den Brande, a seventeenth-century Dutch visionary who dared to imagine a world where women could be educated in mathematics, philosophy, and the sciences. Long before women had access to formal education, Jacoba not only excelled in math herself but also proposed the radical idea of an all-female academy. Join us as we explore her life, her bold vision, and how her ideas still echo through the halls of academia today.

Three Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

The life and legacy of Jacoba van den Brande and her place in the history of mathematics.

The barriers women faced in 17th-century Europe when pursuing intellectual and academic opportunities.

Why Jacoba’s vision of an all-female academy remains relevant to ongoing conversations about equity and access in education.

Resources & Further Reading:

Wikipedia entry on Jacoba van den Brande

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky

“Women and Science Before the Enlightenment” - Journal Article via JSTOR

Simon Stevin: Biography & Contributions

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Episode Transcript

(00:01):
(Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai. Go Unlimited to remove this message.) It's Flashcard Friday here at Math! Science! History! when on Fridays we post a short little
flashcard about something mathy, sciency, or history-y.
I'm your host, Gabrielle Birchak, and I'm sharing a story about the life of a remarkable
woman who made a profound, yet often overlooked, contribution to mathematics and education,

(00:23):
Jacoba Van den brande.
Though her story is not widely known today, Jacoba was a trailblazer, not just in mathematics,
but in the fight for women's education in the 17th century.
She was one of the first to propose and actively pursue the creation of an all-female academy
for studying subjects like math, philosophy, and the sciences.

(00:46):
Let's look at her life and legacy and see how her actions still resonate today.
Jacoba Vandenbrande was born in the early 1600s in the Netherlands, when women were
often excluded from academic life.
The 17th century was a time of intellectual flourishing in Europe, but these advancements
were confined to men.

(01:07):
Despite these restrictions, Jacoba defied societal expectations in multiple ways.
She was not only a mathematician, but also an enthusiastic advocate for women's access
to education.
Her most significant ambition was to create a space where women could be educated the
same way as men, especially in subjects like mathematics and the natural sciences.

(01:31):
She believed that women were just as capable of intellectual pursuits as men, but were
systematically denied the opportunities to prove it.
Jacoba's vision wasn't just about women learning to read and write.
She wanted them to study advanced math, philosophy, and the sciences, disciplines that were traditionally

(01:53):
reserved for male scholars at the time.
She didn't want an informal study group or a private club.
Jacoba envisioned a formal academy where women could be taught by experts, work collaboratively,
and pursue rigorous intellectual inquiry.
To understand just how revolutionary Jacoba's idea was, we need to consider the academic

(02:15):
environment in the Netherlands during her time.
The early 17th century saw the rise of some of Europe's most influential universities
and intellectual circles.
However, these institutions were overwhelmingly male-dominated, with women being excluded
from academic life.
The idea that a woman could learn and teach complex subjects was a radical notion, especially

(02:42):
in the 1600s.
Jacoba's efforts to create an all-female academy were not merely theoretical.
She took practical steps to turn her dream into a reality.
In a letter to the Dutch mathematician Simon Stevin, one of the most well-known figures
in mathematics during that time, Jacoba argued passionately for establishing such an academy.

(03:06):
She used her mathematical reasoning skills to advocate for women's intellectual capabilities,
presenting a compelling case that there was no reason women could not excel in fields
like mathematics and the sciences.
In her letter, Jacoba demonstrated her own deep knowledge of mathematics, which was rare
for women at that time.

(03:26):
She had studied algebra, geometry, and other mathematical disciplines, and was well-versed
in the work of leading scholars of her time.
The fact that she could engage in these intellectual conversations on equal terms with male mathematicians
was groundbreaking.
In many ways, her academic achievements were just as radical as her call for an all-female

(03:48):
academy.
But Jacoba's efforts were not without resistance.
The concept of women engaging in advanced studies, particularly in the fields of mathematics
and science, was met with skepticism by many of her contemporaries.
Society at the time believed that women's primary roles should be in the domestic sphere,
managing households and caring for families.

(04:11):
Intellectual pursuits were considered man's domain.
Despite these challenges, Jacoba's persistence was remarkable.
She continued to push for women's education and was determined to break down the barriers
that excluded women from intellectual life.
Her vision was not just about women's academic achievements.
It was about creating a shift in societal attitudes towards women's intellectual capabilities.

(04:37):
One of the key themes in Jacoba's work was the idea of intellectual collaboration.
She wasn't advocating for women to study alone in isolation, but to learn together,
exchange ideas, and support each other.
This was one of the core principles of her envisioned academy, community and collaboration
among women in intellectual pursuits.

(04:59):
She believed that this collaborative environment would foster creativity and innovation, as
women would learn from their teachers and each other.
Though Jacoba never saw her academy come to fruition, her ideas continued to resonate
for generations.
Her belief in the power of education for women, particularly in mathematics and science, laid

(05:21):
the groundwork for future movements.
Women like Maria Gaetana Agnesi and Émilie Duchâtelet, mathematicians from later centuries,
could be seen as the heirs of Jacoba's intellectual legacy.
But what can we learn from Jacoba van den Brandt today?
Well, her life and work serve as an inspiring reminder of the importance of fighting for

(05:43):
equal opportunities in education, regardless of gender.
Even today, women in fields like mathematics, engineering, and science often face challenges
in gaining recognition and access to resources.
Jacoba's determination and vision remind us that the fight for equality in education
is far from over, and her example encourage us to keep pushing for a world where anyone,

(06:07):
regardless of gender, can access the education they deserve.
Her story also underscores the importance of collaboration and community in intellectual
pursuits.
In many ways, Jacoba's call for an all-female academy can be seen as a call for more inclusive
spaces in academia today.
Places where marginalized voices can come together to learn, share, and grow.

(06:33):
Jacoba van den Brandt may not have lived to see the changes she hoped for, but her ideas
were far ahead of her time.
Her work reminds us that the pursuit of knowledge is not bound by gender, but that the world
is made richer when we open doors to education for everyone, regardless of background.
Suppose Jacoba's vision had come to fruition.

(06:55):
In that case, it might have helped pave the way for generations of women mathematicians,
scientists, and philosophers.
And it still could.
Who knows how many brilliant minds remain untapped simply because society has yet to
fully embrace the idea that women can excel in all fields.

(07:16):
Thank you for tuning into this episode of Math Science History.
I hope you enjoyed learning about Jacoba van den Brandt and her groundbreaking work advocating
for women's education.
If you want to learn more about the stories of other trailblazers in history, subscribe
and catch the next episode.
And as always, don't forget to share this episode with friends who love history, science,

(07:38):
and math, and the stories of unsung heroes.
And until next time, carpe diem.