It's hard to watch my brothers head to school at the monastery today--as it is everyday. Here I am stuck at home to help with all the housework and to look after my little sister. Everyone says that girls don't need to go to school, but I feel that we are more important than boys are because we can learn more than just being a housewife. Also in the code of chivalry it mentions that all, not some, women should be held sacred to them. I wish to read the ancient manuscripts like my brothers, so I can be a more devoted Christian. I know that men are stronger than we are, so they should be a store keeper and protect the store like we have to, and they should be the ale people, for they complain about how we make it. I hope the men know that the only reason that we are paid less than they are is because they are so greedy and want to keep everything for themselves.
They fear to educate us for they fear that we will turn against them. I know the church says that women are inferior to men, but I overheard my brother once quoting Jesus Christ from John. He said that Jesus said that all the children should come to him. Not just the boys, but all the children. For not even most of the noblewomen are educated. Look at the noblewomen. They take care of the whole estate when the noblemen are gone. I wish to be like Christine de Pisan, the famous woman writer. I wish to be a nun, but my father will not let me for fear of me becoming brighter than my elder brothers.
I feel that men have total control over women and abuse their power by trying to keep it this way. I feel that God told me that we are just as equal as men are. I've picked up some words just from learning from my brother, and if I can learn this fast, then all other women can. I wish that all men would be like my brother, sharing and kind.
-Ardeth