Sarah Schenirer would be rolling in her grave if she knew what I learned in Bais Yaakov. She had formed the first religious school for Jewish girls in 1917. Her intention was to educate Jewish girls to be knowledgeable of their heritage, and would grow into refined women that would make fine wives for men in Yeshivos. Her movement grew exponentially, to the point that Bais Yaakov is considered an educational necessity for every Jewish girl. She never intended for me to learn the things I learned in elementary and middle school:
1 - Your entire purpose on this planet is to grow into a good woman to merit a good husband, whose Torah will be your ticket to Gan Eden (heaven). But... if you have no yichus (family heritage, being related to a Big Rabbi), you are at a massive disadvantage to begin with. You must work twice as hard, and accept a lower class of man, maybe one who has a "genetic problem" like yourself. If you want a good catch, you must:
2- Know your TNCH (5 books of Torah, Prophets, and Writings) and its commentaries cold. This makes you very desirable. Your future husband will love to learn both with you and from you. (Men, stop laughing, this is what we were taught, that you would love to hear our words of Torah that we worked hard to memorize. I know what you are thinking: It would be good practice of patience for sitting through a 6 year old's reading of his Parsha sheet.)
3- Fear men. These poor creatures cannot control their sexual urges, and you are in constant danger of being raped. You must concentrate on modesty and staying away from men to prevent them from sinning and raping you or a random woman due to your enticement.
Rape is to be feared because it would make a woman impure, completely undesirable for marriage, and will force your husband to divorce you, should you be lucky enough to be married.
4- Always be modest, for you are the daughter of a King. If you happen to be raped, like Dinah or Tamar, it would be your own fault, for lacking in your modesty. Hashem sees everything you do, and obviously, a man must have glimpsed at your 11 year old knee and had sexual thoughts, and had to rape you. Or perhaps, like Dinah, you left your house to be independent, or try to independently meet a man for marriage, without an arranged marriage planned between your parents and a matchmaker. Or, perhaps you let yourself be alone in a room with a man, like Tamar. You are always in danger, so always be modest, and preferably, not visible at all so you are not a distraction or obstacle to men and their Torah learning.
5- Make yourself useful: There are many more religious women than religious men. My class was regularly reminded that we were the largest in the school, with 28 girls. The boys' corresponding class had 19 boys. 9 girls would likely be single for life, and not be fortunate and deserving enough to fulfill their role as a Jewish woman.
Make yourself useful. Make sure you are always working, always striving to be the servant, the biggest doormat, and never say no or oppose what you are asked to do.
6- Never, ever forget: There are countless girls out there who would love to take your honorable calling as a wife, serving your husband and raising HIS children. If you want to leave your privileged position as a bas Melech and servant, you will leave with nothing, and will likely be raped and longing to return to Judaism, even as a damaged untouchable. (Cue pointing to the spinsters and baalos teshuvah and converts who remain religious.)
Fear women: you are in competition with every girl and woman. Never let your guard down, never trust anyone but Hashem, and always strive to be the best and most modest.
7- Pray daily, make sure to proudly say SheAsani Kirtzono, you, as a woman, are created for His will. Like all lower creatures on the planet:
You are easily replaceable.
