Mary argued her viewpoints on how women should be regard as citizens not as

“inferioity of sex”.
She pointed out “ The being who discharges the duties of its station is independent;
and, speaking of women at large, their first duty is to themselves as rational creatures,
and the next in point of importance, as citizens, is that which includes so many,of a
mother.”

As historical background at her time suggested that women were mostly seen as
mothers and a kind which being different and less capable than men. Women’s roles
in society at her time was to please men and mother children, whereas Mary stressed
that it was vital for women initially to be a rational citizens whom apply virtue and
reason well than let them be mothers.

She challenged social norms which patriarchy promoted that women should be an
subordinate being and their values affiliate to men’s. She also redefined women’s role
by this political philosophy.

Besides, she also claimed that “ to render her really virtuous and useful,she must
not,if she discharge her civil duties,want, individually,the protection of civil laws;she
must not be dependent on her husband's bounty for her subsistence during his life or
support after his death—for how can a being be generous who has nothing of its
own...”

She encouraged women to be independent from the idea of depending on their

husband, and from that, women should be enabled natural rights to claim their
importance as citizens, otherwise duties which enforced on women would be
valueless- “...take away natural rights,and duties become null.”

She conveyed her critique as well as disappointment towards “ civilized women” :

“ ...civilized women of the present century, with a few exceptions, are only anxious
to inspire love, when they ought to cherish a nobler ambition, and by their abilities
and virtues exact respect.”

From Mary’s point of view, women she witnessed were so subject themselves to
beauty, romance and dominance of men, which she felt the way women viewed
themselves should be altered. This view also received numerous critiques. Mary’s
sister called Mary a misogynist while women needed unity more than criticism
(Hagengruber-Bergès/Coffee, n.d.). Such critique from her sister revealed Mary’s
masculinity of her reasoning which failed to include female’s perspectives leaving out
the important otherness in female political and social reasoning
(Hagengruber-Bergès/Coffee, n.d.), which will be explained later by Yanxi.
Mary gave profound outlook of what women could be as citizens: women could study
“the art of healing and be physicians as well as nurses”. They could study politics in
order to “settle their benevolence on the broadest basis.”
Mary certainly depicted a broader prospect for women, and revealed her perspective
and confidence in which women were the same as men.

She also advocated women’s political representation and legal rights.

“A truly benevolent legislator always endeavors to make it the interest of each

individual to be virtuous;and thus private virtue becoming the cement of public
happiness,an orderly whole is consolidated by the tendency of all the parts towards a
common centre. But,the private or public virtue of woman is very problematical...” .
Mary emphasized the importance of citizenship in shaping moral people, and women
were not excluded in this matter but it was hard for women to realize this matter.

“But in order to render their private virtue a public benefit,they must have a civil
existence in the state, married or single; else we shall continually see some worthy
woman, whose sensibility has been rendered painfully acute by undeserved
contempt...” , She also argued this matter out of women’s contribution towards
society which would not be fulfilled without civic identity and recognition, otherwise
civilized women would be, as she described “droop like “the lily broken down by a
plow-share.”

“ The laws respecting woman, which I mean to discuss in a future part, make an
absurd unit of a man and his wife; and then, by the easy transition of only considering
him as responsible, she is reduced to a mere cypher.”As the reality suggested at her
time, women were not recognized as equal fellowship in society by law. Mary
expressed her advocacy of women having legislative rights.

Additionally, Mary realized there were no political representations for issuing

women’s matter: “...I really think that women ought to have representatives,instead of
being arbitrarily governed without having any direct share allowed them in the
deliberations of government.”

This advocacy by her disclosed the fundamental inequality which existed during her
time. If women had their legal representations, they would have more legislative
rights regarding their roles, and social identities to devote themselves in
self-education and self-achievement.

This part disclosed Mary Wollstonecraft’s advocacy of women’s rights as citizens and
part of legislation. Consequently, women not only would be contribute to society, but
also be people with virtue and duties.