Educational reforms and gender emancipation in the 19th century: a comparative study between Spain and China

This study examines the relationship between educational reform and gender emancipation in the nineteenth century through a comparison of the cases of Spain and China.It analyzes the proposals of Francisco Giner de los Ríos and Cai Yuanpei, who, from distinct cultural traditions, understood education as a fundamental tool for transforming patriarchal structures and advancing gender equality.The research is organized around three axes: (1) the theoretical foundations linking educational freedom, individual dignity, and equality; (2) the institutional initiatives aimed at guaranteeing women›s access to formal education; and (3) the historical and contemporary projection of their ideas in current debates on educational justice.The study adopts a historical-comparative and interdisciplinary approach that integrates contributions from the philosophy of education, gender studies, and sociology.The findings show that both authors defended coeducation, humanistic training, and full citizenship for women as essential conditions for social progress.From a critical perspective situated in the Global South, this research highlights pedagogical experiences that, rather than reproducing Western models, reinterpreted modernity through their own cultural frameworks.The analysis provides conceptual and historical tools to rethink inclusion and equity in contemporary education.