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19th Century Feminism

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Feminism in Europe during the nineteenth century was a big problem. The definition of feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. Women didn’t have any rights, they couldn’t vote, they had no rights when it came to marriage or parenting. There were two women who had striven to change this idea and give women the right that they thought everyone deserved. With the lack of rights for women, there is a lot of things that were not allowed. To really understand the 19th century feminist movement, we’ll take a look at key political figures, define just one of the movements that took place in the United Kingdom, and study a work of literature from that time period. During the feminist era in Europe, two …show more content…

A book called A Vindication of the Rights of Women, by Mary Wollstonecraft is a source to learn about the feminist movements of the 1800’s. The book can be described as poetic in a way, a quote being “ I do not with for woman to have power over men, but over themselves”(Wollstonecraft). She goes on to explain how education of woman is also very important because this would inspire woman from all over to rise up and fight for their rights. “Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience”(Wollstonecraft). This book is a great example of how the word spread around Europe about feminism. Mary Wollstonecraft wrote this book as a way of expressing the mutual feeling of her and her fellow women 's mistreatment by society at the …show more content…

“Custody rights and domestic violence.” UK Parliament, www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/private-lives/relationships/overview/custodyrights/.
Hager, Kelly. “Chipping Away at Coverture: The Matrimonial Causes Act of 1857.” BRANCH: Britain, Representation and Nineteenth-Century History. Ed. Dino Franco Felluga. Extension of Romanticism and Victorianism on the Net. Web.
Halévy, Élie (1934). A history of the English people. London: Ernest Benn. pp. 495–496.
Hlb. “Married Womens Property Act 1870.” Intriguing History, Intriguing History, 3 Mar. 2015, www.intriguing-history.com/married-womens-property-act/.
“Mary Wollstonecraft.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 10 Nov. 2017, www.biography.com/people/mary-wollstonecraft-9535967.
Wollstonecraft, Mary. Vindication of the rights of women. Lulu Com, 2013.
Wroath, John (2006). Until they are seven: the origins of women 's legal rights. Winchester England: Waterside

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Throughout "The Rights of Women," Mary Wollstonecraft carefully constructs her ethos to convince her readers of her authority on the subject matter. She begins by acknowledging her limitations, stating that she is not seeking to establish herself as an extraordinary writer but as a rational thinker with a genuine concern for the welfare of her fellow women. This humility allows her to connect with the reader and establish a shared humanity. Wollstonecraft also draws on her life experiences and intellectual capabilities to emphasize her understanding of the challenges faced by women. Her struggles with limited educational opportunities and societal expectations of women inform her arguments, making her advocacy personal and relatable.

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In the 18th century Wollstonecraft changed Women's rights forever when she published “ A Vindication of the Rights of Woman”. During the 18th century women were supposed to stay at home and cook, clean, and take care of their family. Therefore, women were not allowed to vote or study history, art, geography, etc. Wollstonecraft believed that both men and women had equal abilities, and they should both have equal rights. Wollstonecraft says, “ Reason and experience convince me that the only method of leading women to fulfill their peculiar duties is to free them from all restraint by allowing them to participate in the inherent right of mankind.

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Mary Wollstonecraft wrote ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’ to argue about the unfair treatment that women get, compared to their male counterparts. Although, she is writing about the rights of women, I believe Wollstonecraft wrote her piece to address both males and women because by addressing the issues revolving around women, she is also addressing the misogynistic implications that males have on females and how it has to change. By addressing these issues, she is able to challenge males to prove that women are not inferior than males and she is able to challenge females to make a change about the societal stereotypes about them. Wollstonecraft writes this book as a tool to inspire women to make a change.

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Mary Wollstonecraft is a key figure in the early beginnings of the women’s rights movement. Wollstonecraft, born in 1759, in London, England, experienced firsthand the inequality and oppression expressed towards women during this time. Throughout her life, she fought against her odds and worked to create equality between genders. In her most well-known work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, published in 1792, Wollstonecraft argues a simple point: women should be as educated as men and be treated with the same respect. Her arguments are straightforward and understandable, which is why they have made such a huge difference in the way women have been viewed and treated.

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