Mary Wollstonecraft Analysis

Introduction
The subjection and marginalization of women is a problem that has plagued humanity since the beginning of civil society. John Stewart Mill raises important ideas on utilitarianism, liberty and Women’s suffrage and explores the ways in which society bars women. Mary Wollstonecraft is arguably one of the first modern feminists of her time and wrote a collection of pieces dealing with the education of women and the role they play in society. Both of these theorists would have opinions on the current state of women in Tanzania and would both be appalled at the current issues of child marriage and human rights abuses. I believe that child marriage and human rights abuses in Tanzania go against the theories and ideas put forth by both

Wollstonecraft believed that all women should obtain an education and not be restricted if they did attend school.22 She believed that with education women could more freely contribute to society and deserved to be educated. When looking at Tanzania we see often girls under the age of 18 who are married are uneducated and sometimes illiterate this allows for no social contribution from the women this allows men to further dominate both in government setting as well as in the home.23 I believe Wollstonecraft would have a changed view on the poor of society. Before she believed they were the lucky ones, kept away from the corruption of society, however this is not true in Tanzania. The poor are often victimized by the upper class of society; women are especially marginalized in these situations. Wollstonecraft argues that the more education the girl have the better wife and mother she will be.24 A higher education is needed to see the risk and dangers of commonly practiced female genital mutilation, which is a custom in Tanzania and a human right violation. Mothers who are educated and stand up for their rights as well as daughters, fight this cruel mutilation and overall live healthier lives.25 Wollstonecraft approved of this idea and believed women could be effective in improving society as pedagogues (education of daughters). In chapter four of The Vindication of rights of Women, Wollstonecraft states that women have been inferior to men because they are treated like slaves and are only praised for being beautiful26, she would see child marriage, like Mill, as a form of slavery placed upon women. Being one of the first feminist thinkers on the issues of women’s rights, I believe that Mary Wollstonecraft would be ashamed of the child marriage and human rights abuse still continuing in Tanzania