Vindication Of The Rights Of Wom With Strictures On Political And Moral Subjects

Response Paper #1: Vindication of the Rights of Woman: With Strictures on Political and Moral subjects.

By Harta Koalitas (UBID: 50135529) Mary Wollstonecraft’s book, Vindication of the Rights of Woman, was written at a time when the country was going through a huge turmoil. England, whose prominent leaders’ religions had always been alternating between Christians and Protestants, was going through the French Revolution and the aftereffects of the American Revolution which ended a few years back. In the midst of instability in the country, uncertainty of the future gave rise to questions from its people. People were inquiring aggressively and were demanding explanations on issues the country is facing. Additionally, people were demanding

The book discusses issues that mainly affects women such as men, education, marriage and societal pressures during her time. These issues mold and influence Mary Wollstonecraft to someone who we respect today as one of the pioneers fighting for women rights. This response paper focuses mainly on the women aspect and factors surrounding it. Knowledge is a key factor in her fight for women rights. Unfortunately, women were only provided with early education that educates the women to be “ladylike” and be desirable for men to marry. Due to the lack of education in women, they are only able to perceive and comprehend at a superficial level. They lack the knowledge and moral compass to know what is right and wrong as they only have themselves to evaluate their opinion. As a result of this flawed and highly unfair education system, women face many challenges. One of the challenges would be that women became highly vulnerable to men who compliments the women well. Additionally, women were powerless against men who monopolizes knowledge which results in blindly abiding orders of men. “Blind obedience is always sought after by power, tyrants and sensualists,” (Wollstonecraft, 1792). This

In other words, she proposes that girls and boys should be attending the same school. And by being educated together, they will be able to understand both the different and similar gender more. This would eventually cultivate respect for each other. And in order to convince the men, she adds that there would be no significant threat and effect on the male population. She used “God designed them (males) to attain a greater degree of virtue than in women” (Wollstonecraft, 1792), which shows that men are created a superior being to reassure the men. Additionally, the education received by women would contribute more to the society and to men. “To improve both sexes, they ought to be educated together” (Wollstonecraft, 1792). Her solution not only provides more equality and rights for the women, but it also ensures that the men’s ego would be protected and not feel threatened. Mary Wollstonecraft believe that women play a role in why women are perceive this way by the society. Firstly, some women are comfortable with their lives as they marry well and has power, while others accepted the way the world works and conforms according to the societal pressure. Secondly, women who act “ladylike” in order to get an edge over others