A Vindication of the Rights of WomanJoin now to read essay A Vindication of the Rights of WomanThe eighteenth century brought about a great deal of change and a new-found interest in science and reason. Because of this, many great inventions, ideas and innovative theorists arose from this time period. Among them was a forward-thinking essayist by the name of Mary Wollstonecraft. In her book, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Wollstonecraft preaches her belief that the oppression of women is largely due to lack of female education. Although the term “feminism” wasn’t coined until decades later, Wollstonecraft paved the way for future women’s rights movements by advocating equality in education for women. She believed men and women should be equal in the very basic aspects of life, such as in loyalty in marriage. Wollstonecraft openly called out fellow philosopher and novelist of the time, Jean-Jacques Rousseau on his negative views of women and their role in society. Although against common beliefs of the time, Wollstonecraft boldly stated her opinions on a woman’s ability to think rationally and formulate ideas as well as any man.
First of all, it is not difficult to decipher Wollstonecraft’s feelings about Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Although Rousseau was dead at the time A Vindication of the Rights of Woman was written, Wollstonecraft does not hesitate to argue and dispute his points. Actually, both Rousseau and Wollstonecraft had many ideas in common, with an exception to one major theme, that is. Wollstonecraft disagrees with Rousseau’s thoughts on the proper place for women in society. Wollstonecraft argues “for why should the gracious fountain of life give us passions, and the power of reflecting, only to imbitter our days and inspire us with mistaken notions of dignity?”(14). By this, she means that because women are given the ability to think and formulate intelligent thoughts, those thoughts and ideas should be respected. Wollstonecraft doesn’t only attack Rousseau, however. She goes as far to say “that all the writers who have written on the subject of female education and manners…have contributed to render women more artificial, weak characters, than they would otherwise have been; and, consequently, more useless members of society” (21). Although she appears to disagree strongly with Rousseau, I don’t believe that this is always the case. In her writing, Wollstonecraft is not necessarily breaking with Rousseaus central moral position; she is simply demanding that it be extended to women.
Perhaps the most important thing that Wollstonecraft believes should be extended to women is education. She deems the main hindrance on women in her day is their lack of education. She strongly thought that if women were to be educated, they would be liberated, and be able to generate the same thoughts and brilliant ideas as men. On the education of women, Wollstonecraft writes:
“I still insist, that not only the virtue, but the knowledge of the two sexes should be the same in nature…and that women, considered not only as moral, but rational creatures, ought to endeavor to acquire human virtues by the same means as men, instead of being educated like a fanciful kind of half being, one of Rousseaus wild chimeras” (38).
To Wollstonecraft, not educating females in the same manner as males is the greatest set back to women. Female education would help level the playing field between women and men so that perhaps, Wollstonecraft hoped, a wife would not just be seen as a servant to her husband, but as a viable companion and equal. She explains how this would be better not only for women, but for men as well. Educated wives, daughters, mothers, sisters and neighbors, Wollstonecraft argues, would improve the quality of society and would add to the great discoveries of the day. Another problem in the way society viewed women according to Wollstonecraft was that they did not take women seriously as adults. She professes that the men of her
towards whom you would rather pay attention are those who “receives the attention” of the women she is concerned with. Unfortunately, Wollstonecraft thinks that children, the ones who will be educated at a young age, will receive their education from their mothers, and when I ask about Wollstonecraft’s plans for education, she says that her goal is to educate children and educate them as thoroughly as possible for the first time. What she is actually talking about is the need to keep track of all the women she visits, including the ones that she never visits. At only 11, Wollstonecraft is not only a pretty woman, her face and eyes are not quite that young. How to view her and, perhaps, her plans for education on Wollstonecraft’s website:
The reason it is important for you to understand me is not so much to be able to take these women seriously, but to see the way in which this country works, and where they can make a difference. For me, every single one of them has been a shining inspiration, and I hope they will come back with hope for the world at large this century. To me, the most important thing for young women to read is Woll Stone’s: the History of Female Education
As it pertains to education, here is a map to demonstrate the importance of getting these books to all students.
What do you think of this idea, Mr. Wollstonecraft? How about some inspiration in making Wollstonecraft one of your blogposts?
Wollstonecraft is at the heart of the American Dream and its message is that women are beautiful, wonderful, and most importantly, educated. For me, it was important to help to bring about a future where women had a place to turn based on those who made it to the top. As a woman now, there are so many women out there who are young, passionate, ambitious and self-motivated people. But when you look at the success or failure of women in every country, they really are all about education and to make a difference, we needed to get them educated. A more positive way would be to keep going forward to take this idea wherever we go, with the help of our daughters and our children. And my husband has made it clear that we have to give our children a place and we must not let anyone control all of our children.
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