How Did Mary Wollstonecraft Contribute To The Enlightenment?

The Enlightenment was known as a movement of reason, tradition and faith underlooked. This movement changed the way individuals looked at life, many of these ideas being applied and taught to students today. Male philosophers, and writers writers contributed to these ideas, however this was also a time period for women to contribute their ideas as well. The Enlightenment was still a time where women were expected to be fulfilling their duties such as tending to their houses, having children, and focusing on finding a husband. However, many books written by women express their ideas on the current subjects discussed during the Enlightenment. Their ideas sparking the conversation of topics and being impactful present day. Some examples of

Wollstonecraft suggests in A Vindication of the Rights of Women,” that to improve both sexes they ought, not only in private families, but in public schools, to be educated together.” The idea Wollstonecraft proposes has been an influence on education today as schools have a fair amount of young girls and boys. Wollstonecraft advocated for women to be included in the education system as well, then would women be as exceptional as boys. This proposal encourages the idea of more females receiving an education and attending school. Not just exclusively with girls, but so females could be on the same level as boys. The idea of day school was proposed to make this possible, as Wollstonecraft suggests, “Day schools, for particular ages, should be established by the government, in which boys and girls may be educated together. The school for younger children, from five to nine years of age, ought to be absolutely free and open to all classes.” Wollstonecraft not only advocated for young ladies to go to public school, even the schooling to be free for young children. This idea is used today widely, a normal for girls and boys to go to public school, different types of school and classes available for young

Enit Stiner acknowledges, “In a Vindication of the Rights of Women, Wollstonecraft threw down the gauntlet, not only to her male readers, but equally important to the other women writers of her day, as she called for a ‘revolution in female manners’ And these women took up Wollstonecraft’s challenge.” Wollstonecraft inspired her readers to take part in this change. Stiner writes on the influence Wollstonecraft had on female readers during her time. Not long after, female readers were putting their views on paper. Male and female readers were clearly fazed, their attention grabbed with Wollstonecraft’s work. Stiner mentions, “Mary Hays based both of her novels, Emma Courtney (1976) and The Victim of Prejudice (1799), on Wollstonecraft’s program for social reform.” Mary Hays was another female writer and friend of Wollstonecraft who wrote her novels, influenced by the works of Wollstonecraft. This quote shows Wollstonecraft had some influence on novels written by female writers during the Enlightenment. Her work was to be known to many writers, whether they “endorsed her views or contested them”. Those who read Wollstonecraft’s works were inspired to write or contribute their ideas as well whether they agreed or disagreed. No matter their opinion, readers had something else to say proving the influence Wollstonecraft had on readers during her