It’s Not Higher Education that is the Problem
When we talk about pushing our daughters and ourselves as women to pursue college degrees and the negative aspects of that.. what we are talking about is the distraction from God's design that pursuing an independent career can sometimes put into a woman's mind and life.
I agree, there are virtues of higher education! It can be a wonderful opportunity to really apply yourself to learning. Most people don't really engage in learning during their high school years. One of my greatest joys always has been study and learning! That isn't just limited to college. The opportunity that higher education gives for dedicated time to develop our thinking is wonderful! I would love to have a few years just to study, learn, take classes. And I love the opportunity that higher education gives to meet people from all over and professors, experts in their fields (some of whom have valuable intellects and others of whom you want to run as far away from as you can with their deeply entrenched warped truths). I love the confidence that can be built during the college years to develop your own voice and it does give you a greater confidence as you bring yourself to the world when your college years are completed. I think study abroad opportunities are incredible as well.
My opposition comes at the point where a woman's perception of her role changes. Human beings in general have a very hard time being humble. We think we are able to do way beyond what is humanly possible with our time. Our capacity is limited. We get thinking, as women, about our great life endeavors and pursuits. How can a husband and a family fit into too big of an independent vision/career path? If we set our daughters up to be politicians, doctors, lawyers, & college professors (all of which take incredible time, energy & focus) and they do marry and have a family, like the vast majority of women do, how will they ever be able to nurture their home and put any energy into being their husband's helpmeet in the grand vision that God has put him on the earth to accomplish? At that point we have 2 separate, all encompassing life paths trying to be lived out.. not 1.
The bible says that the 2 leave their father and mother and become 1 flesh. How can we have 2 visions within that one flesh category? My question is, Is there enough time and energy to do both? We think we can juggle more than we can! Have you ever noticed when you plan your day or your week or your month, we tend to overestimate what we will be able to accomplish? Things always take longer and cost more than what you thought they would! And it's the same in life. We think we can both have great career endeavors and fulfill God's plan for our families.. I don't know.. I haven't seen it done effectively very often. Most of the time the marriage disintegrates from wanting too much.
I'm not saying the woman has no pursuits, doesn't get out there and use her gifts and bless the world in a major way. Any of you who know me, know that I have many creative pursuits and I am not just hovering at home waiting for my husband's "to do" list for my day. But I am saying that I believe that God's vision for my life is wrapped up in my husband's vision for how God created him to take dominion in the sphere that God has placed us in; and instead of me having a separate career path, I have blended mine with his and embraced that God's will for me and me becoming all that God has for me to be will unfold as I put my energy into knowing and helping my husband with his.