Education – A Tool of Woman Empowerment – with Special Reference to the Contribution of Miss Katie Wilcox to Women Higher Education in Madurai

Abstract

Education develops the character and mental abilities of the young and promotes the child’s total personality is truth beyond contention. True aim of education is not merely providing factual information to the pupil, but it consists of the process of the gradual developing of her power and capacities. Missionaries aimed at both formal and informal education for girls they very much appreciated the residential form of education in shaping the young mind. They believed education helps an individual to lead a gracious and harmonious life. They knew that education alone would eliminate negative and evil tendencies and influences, which hampered the growth of human personality and tended to disrupt the social order. They wanted an individual to lead a good and healthy life in society. If the man is educated, the benefit of education goes to one person only. American missionaries instinctively knew that if women were educated the benefit would be shared by all members of the family. They realized this fact early in their missionary career. Even though there was lot of social service in which they could be engaged they selected the cause of women’s education. Dr. Katie Wilcox was a woman of strong Convictions and energies, and she devoted a rich and rewarding life time to the social advancement and empowerment of women, leading on to the opening of Lady Doak College, just a year after India gained her independence. What she did stands explained by what she believed and what she stood for. In first place she loved God, not as mere sentiments but in actual deeds. This love impelled her to become a missionary to leave behind her relatives and friends and convenience of life in her own land and choose to live in a developing country like India. Secondly she loved the Indian people, specially the women of India and laboured for them till the end of her life.

In this paper the life profile of Miss Katie Wilcox and her contribution to women’s higher education in Madurai is discussed.

"Education is one of the most important means of empowering women with the knowledge, skills and self-confidence necessary to participate fully in the development proces."  - D Programme of Action, paragraph 4.2