What a Young Wife Ought to Know

by Emma F. Angell (Emma Frances Angell) Drake

"What a Young Wife Ought to Know" by Emma F. Angell Drake is a guidebook written in the early 20th century aimed at educating young women about their roles as wives and mothers. The book emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, health, and intelligence as fundamental qualities for fulfilling their duties in the home and family structure. It covers various themes, including the responsibilities that come with marriage, the influence of a wife on her home, and the significance of understanding one’s own body and reproductive health. The opening of the book sets the stage for a serious and thoughtful discourse on the transitions that young girls face as they enter into wifehood. Drake reflects on the responsibilities that accompany this new role, insisting that young wives must be equipped with essential knowledge regarding health, motherhood, and their influence on future generations. She warns against ignorance and highlights the necessity of self-understanding and various subjects of knowledge that can aid in becoming successful home-makers, such as anatomy, health maintenance, and the implications of their choices on the next generation. Drake’s message is clear: to embrace the role of a wife is to accept a partnership in nurturing and upholding the moral and physical health of the family.