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Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
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During the late eighteenth century, the world experiences the chaos of the French Revolution. The Enlightenment proclaims that men have natural rights; therefore, people grew angry with oppressive monarchs ultimately leading to revolution. Enlightenment thinkers apply rational thinking to the rights of men, and during the Romantic period people advocate for more rights for all people. In 1789, French revolutionaries proclaim the Declaration of the Rights of Man, which gives equality and civil rights to men in France. In 1792, a woman by the name of Mary Wollstonecraft extends these ideas of natural rights to women in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.
Mary Wollstonecraft's "The Rights of Women," published in 1792, is a groundbreaking feminist masterpiece that challenges the surrounding societal norms and advocates for the rights and education of women. Through her skillful use of rhetoric, Wollstonecraft eloquently uses the three classical appeals—ethos, logos, and pathos—to persuade her audience and stimulate discussions on gender equality, women's liberation, and overall education. “The Rights of Women” is an iconic feminist piece that sparked controversy and calls for a change of misogyny. This essay will dive into Wollstonecraft's adept use of ethos, logos, and pathos, thoroughly analyzing how she effectively communicates her argument and establishes herself as a credible, logical, and
Leading up to the 19th century women beginning to want a new change in the system. Not only just for women’s rights but for equality to be made to everyone. The era of this new decade allowed for so many changes to be made, both good and bad depending on who you asked. Women taught traditions passed down, never being able to branch out on their own were finally able to have new freedoms. These are the women who caused a difference in history and helped fight for right to be equal.
In the time of the Enlightenment Period many changes were happening in society. In the late 17th and 18th century people called The Philosophers, met in French salons and English drawing rooms to discuss what they believed in. They made many great things happen and strived their best to make what they believed in something possible. The Enlightenment Philosophers imagined they could change the ways of society in many ways. They concluded that they could improve the laws, rights of women, religious rights, and also economic rights.
In American civil war was triggered by many different reasons, but mainly because of the enslavement of African Americans. The northerners were anti-slavery, while the southerners were pro-slavery. It is known to be the deadliest war known, the war started in 1861 and ended in 1865, won by the North and president Lincoln abolished slavery after the war. The north outnumbered the south in many different ways; like men, guns, technology, and money. The ratio was about 4:1, but the south had one great advantage.
Overpopulation in animal shelters has become a big crisis that lots of shelters are seeking help. Spray /Neuter can help decrease overpopulation in shelters and help the health of animals. Adopting is a key to not having to put down animals and helps decrease overpopulated shelters. To get a handle of this crisis people need understand why this is happening.
One of her main points that would eventually make its way to modern society was the ability for women to go to school and get an education similar to a man’s. She wanted women to be given the same chance as men so that they could prove their worth to everyone. In a scene she wanted the reputation of women being weak and emotional to be destroyed that way women could have rights. In her book written in 1792, “A Vindication for Women’s Rights.”, she wrote, “To render mankind more virtuous, and happier of course, both sexes must act from the same principal;... women must be allowed to find their virtue on knowledge, which is scarcely possible unless they be educated by the same pursuits [studies] as
More than 140 women came to Virginia from 1620 to 1622. Women in colonial America had extremely hard working conditions. They were called upon to enable household order. Women were to wake up early in the morning before the sun rose to the late afternoons after the sun went down to maintain the house while preparing meals (which could take hours) before the husband woke up, doing laundry, mending clothes, livestock, working in the fields and gardens, tending to the children (most mid wives had 5-8 children), and many other tasks. Most of all the women abilities were learned from their mothers.
“Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue” (Buddha). In “A Vindication of the Rights of Women” by Mary Wollstonecraft, the path to virtue is through true education and reason. The effects of virtue are illustrated through an enlightened mind, being morally upright, and being able to live a pleasant life. One achieves virtue when one truly understands what his or her education is for, to not only to be able to learn from today’s society, but also from mistakes made in mankind’s past and try to better it.
Women in England during the 1800s faced restrictions to participate in movements and were limited in their political speaking and voting capabilities. Although many women accepted their fate, some fought for a different social role. (“The Women 's Rights Movement”) Women such Mary Wollstonecraft, Jane Austen, and Mary Shelley inspired a new way of radical thinking towards human rights, specifically the rights of women (Surgis). Thanks to these inspiring individuals, there was a change in women’s attitude regarding their options to become part of the work force, gain an education, and have equal rights in marriage (Surgis).
Mary Wollstonecraft was an advocate for women's rights and a writer. She was also the founder of movements and the rights of women. Mary conveyed and spoke out in her published books about injustice and the right to be equal in economics, education, and politics. She like many others during the 17th century spoke up for a greater future in France. Similar to John Locke who was also a philosopher that wanted the idea of a government that protected a person's natural rights including life, liberty, and property.
One famous instance is Mary Wollstonecraft, who had a child out of wedlock and did not marry the father. Mary was self-educated and supported herself by writing fiction, non-fiction and translating literary works. But what truly makes her stand out was her 18th century book on the rights of women which she stated rights and liberties pertained to everyone, men and women. Another woman who vocal about women’s rights was Abigail Adams who did not hold back any when it came to expressing herself to her husband John Adams. Abigail implored to her husband as he was drafting the Declaration of Independence to not forget women who were a part of the new world and deserved a voice.
while feminism is a wide spread concept today, women’s voice were hardly aired in the early centauries of America history. Some of the acts that show how much the patriarchal system worked in America include the sending of women to Virginia in 1622 (Foner 433)This act showed the dominance of men as this decision was made without the consultation of women at all. The Maryland Act Concerning Religion of 1644 also shades light of how society was governed in the early centauries. The Trial of Anne Hutchinson of 1637 became the first act of women rebellion as a few courageous women aimed to break the long history of men dominance and demanded for a few basic right which included the right to education and say over the society that they also lived in (Foner 502). This also included the right to make simple decision as the right clothes for women to wear and how women were allowed to act in
Before this, the women’s jobs were to stay home, cook, clean and take care of the children. They weren’t allowed to work the same jobs as men or vote, and their husbands were the boss of them. It is said in The Declaration of Sentiments, Seneca Falls Conference, “The history of mankind is a history repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her… He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice… He becomes, in marriage, for all intents and purposes, her master -- the law giving him power to deprive her of her liberty, and to administer punishment.”
Mary Wollstonecraft’s A vindication of the rights of women written in 1792 can be considered one of the first feminist documents, although the term appeared much later in history. In this essay, Wollstonecraft debates the role of women and their education. Having read different thinkers of the Enlightenment, as Milton, Lord Bacon, Rousseau, John Gregory and others, she finds their points of view interesting and at the same time contrary to values of the Enlightenment when they deal with women’s place. Mary Wollstonecraft uses the ideas of the Enlightenment to demand equal education for men and women. I will mention how ideals of the Enlightenment are used in favor of men but not of women and explain how Wollstonecraft support her “vindication” of the rights of women using those contradictions.
