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Vindication Of Woman

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An Influential Advocate of Women's Education In the powerfully progressive essay, "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman," by highly influential author and founder of feminism Mary Wollstonecraft, the state of women's rights and lack thereof is effectively argued. The essay pinpoints many of the traditional justifications for denying women their inalienable rights, and shoots them down, describing their flaws and lack of reasoning. The result is the first feminist philosophical work ever published, and what many believe is the masterpiece that paved the way for the future of women's rights. Wollstonecraft believed that in order for society to function optimally, everyone, including women should exercise their ability to reason, the only …show more content…

Every problem presented in her opinion is paired with a viable solution that is based in logic, backed up by evidence, is easily attainable, and is not overly simplified. While there are a lot of references to Wollstonecraft's moral beliefs and vindications, she does not allow her own emotions to affect the delivery of her opinions. When she explains the current state of women's education, she uses the example of military soldiers, who just like women, are "sent into the world before their minds have been stored with knowledge or fortified by principles" (Wollstonecraft) the negative impact being that they are only living up to the potential society tells them they have- to please men. Without this obstructive mentality, Wollstonecraft believed that women can become better mothers and wives. This idea is also illustrated by Wollstonecraft's opinion of another author, Dr. John Gregory, who believed that women would fulfill their life's purpose upon marrying and having children. Whole hearted disagreeing , she argues that since women have never been given the opportunity to pursue an education, their true potential cannot be gaged, because "the cultivation of the understanding is always subordinate to the acquirement of some corporeal accomplishment," (Wollstonecraft) so the argument that men are superior in their accomplishments has no bearing. Wollstonecraft's solution is simply leveling the playing field, by offering women the chance to prove their true value and worth. In doing this, women may not overshadow the accomplishments of men, but no harm would come out of granting them this

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