George Maris

History Western Civilization 102

Dr, Plunkett

September 6, 2015

Wollstonecraft’s View on The Status of Women and Its Problems

Mary Wollstonecraft wrote, A Vindication of the Rights of Women during a time when

men were perceived to be dominant. She argues, the reason for men’s dominance is due to

oppression of women. Women were oppressed due to “their deficient education”. Education

plays an important role in the differences between the sexes. Wollstoncraft writes “Men innately

are not superior over women intellectually”. In 1792 when Wollstonecraft wrote this treatise,

women were not treated equally and women should be given equal rights and opportunities. This

was the beginning of the feminist movement. She argues that both wealth and gender roles

create major problems in society.

Her letter to M.Talleyrand-Perigord ,the late Bishop of Autun, is filled with strong

emotion. She clearly states her reasoning for the rights of women and national education.

Wollstonecraft wishes to see women advance, instead of “slowing, the progress of those glorious

principles that give a substance to morality” (Wollstonecraft 1). She makes reference to the

larger minds who formed the constitution. Truth must be common to all and if she were not

prepared by education, she can “stop the progress of knowledge and virtue” (2).
 Women were considered weaker because of their “elegancy of mind”. This was based on

what men were taught. Women were perceived to be weaker due to their emotions. However, it

was through her own emotional state that she was to explain, men and women were totally equal

human beings. She writes “Should I express my conviction with the energetic emotions that I

feel”. She argues women should be able to enter the world of medicine and politics. Women

should speak their minds without worrying about being perceived as masculine. It’s the power of

reason that places humankind above the rest of the natural world. Women were considered

weaker by nature. She argues virtue and moral goodness is what makes one person better than

another. God gave us passions to gain knowledge by struggling against them. However, reason

being the foremost, its purpose was to be used to overcome prejudice, instead men use it to

justify it. Wollstonecraft criticizes Rousseau because he wants women to grow up learning that

what really matters is a women’s attractiveness. They are incapable of reason and truly equal

education is inappropriate. “Rousseau exerts himself to prove that all was right originally” (14).

She disagrees with Rousseau's belief that humans eventually return to their natural state

and begin acting more like animals again. She argues, God gave humanity reason and civilization

in order to improve life. Wollstonecraft is consistent in pursuing the fact that man and women

are one. Women bearing the fruits of the Holy Spirit, long suffering, gentleness of manners, are

God qualities (32), (Although this is my perception).

Women are under men’s laws of submission, they were looked at as toys.

Wollstonecraft’s main purpose of writing, A Vindication of the Rights of Women, was to

primarily state that education is essential for women to increase their role in society. And the

ways in which women in her time were oppressed and denied their potential in society. She was

up against many authors who disagreed with her philosophy. Many of the writers on female
education, such as Rousseau and Dr. Gregory, tend to paint women as artificial and weak.

However, she chose to write about subjects that were very sensitive in nature without touching

on certain branches. She writes, “A mistaken education, a narrow, uncultivated mind, and many

sexual prejudices, tend to make women more constant than men; but for the present, I shall not

touch on this branch of the subject’ (30). She was very cautious in explaining her purpose rather

than getting into debates.

Most importantly education for women provided an independence for women in case her

husband passed away. Education allotted women individual rights to support the household and

raise their children. Her views on equality began the feminist movement in which women were

seen to become more involved with social changes. As part of the bigger picture, God gave

reason to both men and women. Although Rousseau’s definition of education differs for woman.

He believed woman’s education was purposes for the husband. It was not for independent

thinking or individualization.
 Works Cited

Wollstonecraft Mary A Vindication of the Rights of Women Dover Thrift Edition