MARY

ASTELL
By Javier Muñoz, Alberto Romero, Alejandro Rodríguez,
Kevin Quintana, Álvaro Gómez y Paco Parra
INDEX
1.- BIOGRAPHY

2.- WORKS THAT SHE HAS DONE

3.- WOMENS AT HER TIME

4.- COMPARION BETWEEN MARY ASTELL, DESCARTES AND POULAIN DE LA BARRE

4.1.- MARY ASTELL AND DESCARTES
4.2.- MARY ASTELL AND POULAIN DE LA BARRE

5.- RELATIONSHIP WITH PHILOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT

1. BIOGRAPHY
English writer, philosoper and feminist (1666-1731), considered of being one of the earliest
feminist thinkers in English history and was a prominent voice in the movement for women's
rights.
She was born in a middle class family and received advanced education for women at that time,
and she also wrote about many topics (religion, politics, education...)

Known for her writing on the education and social status of women, she argued for women's
right to education and self-determination in her work called "A Serious Proposal to the Ladies"
Her works continues to be influential in the modern world and her writings paved the way for
future generations of women to demand their rights and strive for equality. Finally, her legacy
continues to inspire feminist thinkers and activists around the world.
 2. WORKS THAT SHE HAS DONE

"A Serious Proposal to the Ladies" (1694):

This work was one of Astell's most famous and
influential pieces. In it, she argued for the
establishment of a private women's academy, where
women could receive an education that was equal to
that of men.
2. WORKS THAT SHE HAS DONE

"Reflections upon Marriage" (1700):

This work was a critique of the traditional view of marriage
in Astell's time, which held that women were subordinate
to men and had few rights within the marriage.
2. WORKS THAT SHE HAS DONE

"Some Reflections upon the Education of Daughters"

(1703):
In this work, Astell again argued for the
establishment of private women's academies, but
she also provided advice to parents on how to
educate their daughters at home.
2. WORKS THAT SHE HAS DONE

"Christian Religion, as Profess'd by a Daughter of the Church of

England" (1705):
This work was a defense of Anglicanism against the rising
popularity of nonconformist Protestantism in England. .
2. WORKS THAT SHE HAS DONE

"The Female Advocate; or, An Answer to a Late Satire

against the Pride, Lust, and Inconstancy of Woman"
(1706):
In this work, Astell responded to a satirical work that
attacked women as being vain and immoral.
 3. WOMEN AT HER TIME
Between 1666-1731, the years Mary Astell lived,
women faced many limitations and inequalities
compared to men.

Generally, they had limited access to education and

professional opportunities, and were expected to marry
and be at home doing housework. Most women had no
political or legal rights, and even in some cases, they
were treated as their husbands' property, having no
control over their own lives.

XVII CENTURY
.
3. WOMEN AT HER TIME
Despite all these hard limitations, many women in
the 17th century challenged these norms and made
important contributions in areas such as literature,
science, philosophy, and politics, although they
often had to do so anonymously or under male
pseudonyms to be taken seriously.

A clear example of this is the woman we are talking

about, Mary Astell.

.
4. COMPARISON BETWEEN MARY ASTELL,
DESCARTES AND POULAIN DE LA BARRE
4.1.- MARY ASTELL AND DESCARTES
Mary Astell and Descartes share ideas in their philosophical
thought, among them, the fundamental characteristics they
share are that they were dualists who believed in the
separation of the mind and the body, explaining that the mind
and the body are different entities, they were skeptical of
traditional authorities and believed that people should use
their own reason to arrive at knowledge and both criticized
traditional social norms and believed that people should be
free to make their own decisions.
 4. COMPARISON BETWEEN MARY ASTELL,
DESCARTES AND POULAIN DE LA BARRE
4.2.- MARY ASTELL AND POULAIN DE LA BARRE
Mary Astell and François Poulain de la Barre were both philosophers who shared some similarities in
their philosophical thought like:
1-Feminism: Both were advocates for women's rights and argued that women were capable of
rational thought and intellectual achievement.
2-Skepticism of traditional gender roles: Both argued that they were socially constructed and not
based on any inherent differences between men and women.
3-Focus on reason: Both argued that it was a fundamental human capacity that should be developed
and exercised.
4-Emphasis on education: Both emphasized the importance of education for both men and women,
and believed that education was essential.
5-Critique of male-dominated society: Both were critical of the patriarchal society in which they
lived.
5. RELATIONSHIP WITH PHILOSOPHICAL

MOVEMENT
Her ideas were influenced by the philosophical ideas of the time,
and she was part of a group of intellectuals who met regularly to
discuss philosophical and political topics.
Astell's work was grounded in her belief in reason and education,
and she argued that women were just as capable of reason as
men.
Her writings challenged the patriarchal norms of her era and
paved the way for future generations of women to demand their
rights and strive for equality.
Her legacy continues to inspire feminist thinkers and activists
around the world, and her contribution to the philosophical
movement is an important part of her legacy.
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