To the Young Women of Malolos - Rizal's Main Idea

           Jose Rizal's main idea in his letter to the young women of Malolos is that since mothers are the first teachers of their children, he wants the women to be well educated so that they can be efficient in teaching their children.

It is obvious that Rizal's ultimate desire was for women to be offered the same opportunities as those received by men in terms of education. During those days, young girls were not sent to school because of the universal notion that they would soon only be taken as wives and stay at home with children. But if the mothers are the first teachers of their children, how can they be efficient teachers if they were not as educated as men? The idea is that whatever the mother shows to her children is what the children will also become. If the mother is always kissing the hand of the friars in submission, then her children will grow up to be mindless fools who do nothing but do as they are told, even if the very nature of the task would violate their rights as individuals. A mother must teach her children to prefer death with honor to life with dishonor, which Rizal stated with reference to the Sparta women. 

Going back to education of women, Rizal said that education is the fundamental source of liberation. If the mothers have the right education, they can teach their children the following values: love for honor; sincere and firm character; clear mind; clear conduct; noble action; love for one’s fellowmen; and respect for God. Moreover, Rizal warned that the country will never be free and flourishing as long as the children and the women remain ignorant. Rizal directly states that he strongly believes that WOMEN can exert great influence towards the liberation of their country.

Source: 
1. http://bookstove.com/book-talk/to-the-young-women-of-malolos-concise-summary-and-critical-analysis/
2. http://www.nhi.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10&Itemid=39