A VINDICATION OF

THE RIGHTS OF
WOMAN
~The Rights and Involved Duties of Mankind Considered
~Mary Wallstonecraft
 WHAT IS FEMINISM?
Feminism can be defined both as an ideology or theory and social movement
glorifying the importance of women empowerment by providing them
equality, rights, and opportunities same as men in all aspects; social,
economical and political.

~ It demands to put an end to male dominance.

~ This movement started in late 19th century in the west and soon gained
popularity worldwide.
THREE WAVES OR PHASES OF
FEMINISM
Waves of Feminism

first third
second

Sex War
Demand for
Women suffrage Liberation from
Restrictions and
Suppression
 THE FIRST FEMINIST WAVE:
VOTES FOR WOMEN
~ The first feminist wave goes back to World War I, when members of the
National Women’s Party (NWP) made a strike outside the White House in the USA
against the undemocratic practices done by governments.
~ The first wave of feminism in the USA began in the 1840s as women strongly
opposed against slavery.
~ They are mostly known for their efforts for suffrage or voting rights for women
while they also sought equality in property rights and changes in the marriage
relationship.
~ The Seneca Fall Convention began the social movement by which women
finally won the Right to Vote in 1920.
THE SECOND FEMINIST WAVE:
~ Also known as the Women’s Liberation Movement.
~ The second wave focused on the discrimination of women and the social, cultural and
political issues of the time.

~ The ‘Miss America Pageants’ in 1968-69 made the American feminists angry as it
harmed the dignity of women. The feminists made strikes and walks against the
competitions in particular and the image of women in general.

~ The second wave feminists formed many strong partnerships, coalitions and allieness in
which other activists joined forces and addressed crucial social issues like ‘sex identity’,
‘peace movements’, ‘reproductive rights’, ‘religious achievements’ etc.
~ Beginning in the late 1960s, women’s health became a primary concern of feminist artists
(throughout Canada).

~ In 1970, members of Vancouver Women’s Caucus’ organized an ‘Abortion Caravan’ that

travelled across the country in the name of women’s rights to accessible abortion on
demand.

~ Simone De Beauvoir’s ‘The Second Sex’ written in 1949 and Germanic Geer’s book ‘
The Female Eunuch’ written in 1970 were one of the most influential books during the
second wave of feminism.
THIRD WAVE FEMINISM:
~ The third wave of Feminism emerged in 1990s and continues to present. Rebecca Walker
is the symbol of this wave. She used this term ‘Third Wave Feminism’ for the first time in
1992.

~ This wave came as a reaction of the second wave ideas and activities like women in
pornography, sex work and prostitution.

~ They started to prepare events and parties about interests like fashion and clothes, which
were highly enjoyed by girls and young women. By doing this, they wanted women to love
themselves and to believe in their abilities to change the world in a positive way.
~ They used the new technological advances and mass media to spread their ideas and
thoughts.

~ They produced many works in relations to this idea like ‘Friendly Grrls Guide to the
Internet Introduction’ in 1996 and ‘Guide to the World Wide Web’ in 1998. This activity
took the responsibility of removing the stereotypical, traditional and typical picture
women by deleting ideas like sexist language and unfair terms used for girls.

~ They educated women about laws, their rights, their role and importance in society.
DEDICATORY LETTER
~ “A Vindication of the rights of women” by Mary Wallstonecraft, published in 1792 is a
dedicatory letter to M. Talleyrand Perigord, the late bishop of Autun.
~ The letter was written as a reply or a retort to M. Talleyrand Perigord’s pamphlet titled
“Rapport sir I’instruction publique” in 1791 where he recommended public education for men as
they will be taking care of greater responsibilities while private education for women since they
live more secluded lives. The pamphlet was written to be presented at the French National
Assembly in 1791.
~ She quotes, “I plead for my sex, not for myself”, which explains her strong determination to
raise voice against any kind of discrimination towards woman, strongly opposing the idea of
limiting women’s skills and worth only to maintain the false dignity a woman is supposed to carry
for the sake of the society.
~ Mary Wallstonecraft defines Independence as “the grand blessing of life, the basis of every
virtue”. Freedom which can never be achieved by contracting wants, even in the toughest
situations. The value of Independence is what gives her the strength to raise her voice against the
prevailing issues of the time and a blessing like no other.
~ She earnestly wishes to see a woman getting the chance to advance, instead of limiting
herself to suit the taste of people and the society, to progress with the glorious principles
that give a substance to morality.

Her main argument is built on the principle that “if women will not be prepared by education
to become the true companion of man, will she not stop the progress of knowledge and
virtue? The truth must be common to all and it will be inefficacious with respect to its
influence on general practice”.

~ Mary Wallstonecraft believes that the introduction of the pamphlet for the revision of the
French Constitution on female education will be nothing more than a damage to society as a
whole. If women are not skilled and knowledge enough, then men cannot become more
knowledgeable and virtuous either.
~ Mary Wallstonecraft believes that the introduction of the pamphlet for the revision of the
French Constitution on female education will be nothing more than a damage to society as a
whole. If women are not skilled and knowledge enough, then men cannot become more
knowledgeable and virtuous either.
~ She concludes that the neglect of women’s education has resulted in great misery. She mentions,
“The conduct and manners of women prove that their minds are not in a healthy state. The
educational system looks at women more as females than as human beings, concerned to make them
‘alluring mistresses’ instead of affectionate wives and rational mothers”.
~ Wallstonecraft is trying to make women ‘masculine’. Women are already physically
dependent upon men, and there is no need to increase this
dependence by “prejudices that give a sex to virtue”. Women
Masculine women
are likewise degraded by “mistaken notions of female excellence”. The solution is for men to become
more chaste and modest and for women to become wiser.
~ She argues that reason has been clouded by prejudice to such a degree and “such spurious qualities
have assumed the name of virtues,” that it’s necessary to explore these opening assertions more deeply.
~ The more understanding women acquire, the more they will be attached to their duty,
comprehending it.
~ “They may be convenient slaves, but slavery will have its constant effect, degrading the
master and the abject dependent,” adds Wallstonecraft.

~ Besides, while they are only made to acquire personal accomplishments, men will seek
for pleasure in variety, and faithless husbands will make faithless wives. The ignorant
beings, when not taught to respect public good, nor allowed any civil rights, they attempt
to do themselves justice by retaliation.

~ She ends the dedicatory letter by saying “when your constitution is revised, the rights of
women may be respected, if it be fully proved that reason calls for this respect, and loudly
demands justice for one half of the human race.”