hated the idea of serving men

This meant I couldnt get a good job after collage. My mother kept telling me nobody wanted a plain English major. But an English major who knew short-hand was something else again. The trouble was, I hated the idea of serving men in any way. I wanted to dictate my own thrilling letters.

(...)

If I never learned short hand I would never have to use it. 

 - The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath (1963)