What Is Wollstonecraft's Argument For The Emancipation Of Women

737 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Women's importance in our society

At the heart of Wollstonecraft’s work is a call for change in the treatment of women based on the political nature of the family unit, thus her work takes on a feminist aim. Feminism as a critical theory seeks to address and reform society’s structural inequalities between gender (Philips, 1998). As such, Wollstonecraft’s work (1792) is essentially an appeal to a major tenet of feminism: equal opportunity. Rather than socializing girls from birth to the pursuits of pleasuring men, Wollstonecraft fervently believed that women should be able to cultivate their rational faculties through education, just as men are. She condemns the arbitrary authority assigned to men within the household – however, her argument stops short there. In other words, she does not argue for a complete overhaul of a patriarchal society that penetrates every aspect of life – representation in government, career prospects, private property rights and ownership, the struggle of working class women, and so forth – but primarily for the dynamic between husband and wife …show more content…

Although Wollstonecraft touches upon many themes crucial to both classical liberalism and feminism, this paper has evaluated how her politicization of the family unit reveals her work to not simply be informed by one theory or the other, but rather as a pioneering work in liberal feminism. Thus, through an analysis of Wollstonecraft’s politicization of the relationships within the family, this paper has argued how the lack of coherency with traditional theories of classical liberalism and feminism can be explained by the simple fact that the work is more appropriately deemed as an introduction to liberal feminism. Thus, contemporary debates on the theoretical foundations of Wollstonecraft can attribute her work as being fully informed by both theories subsequently creating the offspring theory of liberal

Show More
Related

  • The Tone Of Wollstonecraft's On Making An Agreeable Marriage

    267 Words  | 1 Pages

    The angry tone of Wollstonecraft’s “Vindication of the Rights of Women” significantly contrasts with the cautionary tone of Austen’s “On Making an Agreeable Marriage,” seeking to reform society rather than guide people to live in that society. When Austen describes the drawbacks of loveless marriage, she writes that “Anything is to be preferred or endured rather than marrying without affection” (Austen 72-73). Austen uses “preferred” and “endured” to warn her niece against marrying too quickly, creating a cautionary tone. Moreover, “anything” emphasizes the miserableness of a marriage without affection, beseeching Austen’s niece to verify her love before diving headfirst into a marriage. In contrast, when demonizing the education system, Wollstonecraft

    Read More

  • Mary Wollstonecraft: A Radical Englishwoman

    1279 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mary Wollstonecraft lived in a time where women had no right to vote, no right to education beyond what their mother or governess taught them, and basically no right to individuality or an opinion. They were considered possessions and virtually had no mind of their own. She realized that this was a problem of society and openly voiced her opinions on the matter. She wrote the book A Vindication of the Rights of Women in response to a literary response to the society's so-called proper behavior of a woman and what her rights should be. But her opinions were brought on by more that the ability to think for herself; she suffered much during her childhood and throughout the years to come. Wollstonecraft dealt with the beating of her mother and sister, death of a close friend, and even a nervous breakdown of her sister. Her own experiences in her life inspired her to write a book that would cause her to be criticized harshly for her radical views.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication Of The Rights Of Woman

    1348 Words  | 3 Pages

    Setting up what might turn into a typical subject all through much women 's activist written work, Wollstonecraft directs her investigate on two fronts: from one viewpoint, she reprimands patriarchal society (as it would later be called) for the unreasonable way it restrains ladies ' rights, and also their chance for instruction, self-expression, and financial autonomy; while then again, she scrutinizes ladies for becoming tied up femininity which, in her perspective, transforms ladies into unimportant "spaniels" and 'toys '. Wollstonecraft 's answer was better instruction for young ladies, not the allowing of equivalent rights. So in this sense, one may say women 's liberation starts not with Wollstonecraft yet rather with the different Women 's Suffrage developments that sprang up in the mid

    Read More

  • Mary Wollstonecraft: The First Feminism

    121 Words  | 1 Pages

    Indisputably, Mary Wollstonecraft was one of the most influential figures of Enlightenment, also considered the ‘first feminist’. It is certain that her works and writing has influenced the lives of many women and altered the outlook of some societies on women, evolving rights of women a great deal from what they used to be in her time. It is clear that Wollstonecraft’s arguments and writing will remain applicable and relevant to societies for many years to come, as although there has been progression, there has not been a complete resolution. Once women receive so easily the freedom, rights and opportunities that men inherently possess, may we be able to say that Wollstonecraft has succeeded in vindicating the rights of women entirely.

    Read More

  • Women in Abolitionism and Womens Rights

    1435 Words  | 3 Pages

    The purpose of this investigation is to establish ways in which black women and white women’s involvement in the abolitionist movement influenced the women's movement. The evidence will investigate and identify which events ultimately influenced the women's movement and why the were so influential. Primary and secondary documents will be used and analyzed with respect to their origin, purpose, value and l potential limitations; which will aid in the evaluation of collected evidence. Documents will include books and websites that contain t chronological accounts of important events. Analyzing and summarizing the documents and/or evidence will essentially aid in the formulation of a concluding statement which reveals the ways in which the actions of the women during the time of the civil war influenced the women's’ movement.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Wollstonecraft's Essay On Radical Feminism

    409 Words  | 1 Pages

    A change in feminism is shown between Wollstonecraft’s essay and Young’s essay. As women first demanded rights, they were coming out of complete dependence on men. Wollstonecraft and other activists fought for the basic right of education for women. As women gained liberty, they began to oppress themselves in the Third Wave of feminism. Wollstonecraft focused on the basic rights of women in her paper, saying “They must be permitted to turn to the fountain of light, and not forced to shape their course by the twinkling of a mere satellite” (Wollstonecraft 5). Here Wollstonecraft is saying that women need to be given the opportunity to get a good education, not just be taught by what their husbands tell them, so they could be their better selves.

    Read More

  • Women's Rights Activist: Mary Wollstonecraft

    622 Words  | 2 Pages

    Marry Wollstonecraft was a famous women’s right activist and was also considered one of the most famous feminist, she fought for equal rights between men and women because people considered women weaker than men.

    Read More

  • 18th Century Republicanism: Struggles for Equality and Rights

    683 Words  | 2 Pages

    In many instances, women and children have no say so as to what goes on inside the home. Whatever the father believed is what their children and wife’s had to conform to. Many women, such as Lucy Knox and Abigail Adams, began challenging their husbands for respect and partial control in their union and homes. Despite gains in rights and divorce, republican society still defined women’s roles exclusively in terms of mother, wife, and homemaker. Any other roles pursued would seem unnatural and threatening.

    Read More

  • Mary Freeman's The Revolt of Mother and the Domestic Feminist

    1385 Words  | 3 Pages

    The late nineteenth century was a critical time in reshaping the rights of women. Commonly this era is considered to be the beginning of what is know to western feminists as “first-wave feminism.” First-wave feminism predominately fought for legal rights such as suffrage, and property rights. A major hallmark of first-wave feminism is the concept of the “New Woman.” The phrase New Woman described educated, independent, career oriented women who stood in response to the idea of the “Cult of Domesticity,” that is the idea that women are meant to be domestic and submissive (Stevens 27). Though the concept of the New Woman was empowering to many, some women did not want to give up their roles as housewives. These women felt there was a great dignity in the lifestyle of the housewife, and that raising children was not a job to scoff at. Mary Freeman's short story “The Revolt of 'Mother',” tells the story of such a domestic woman, Sarah, who has no interest in leaving her position as mother, but still wishes to have her voice heard in the private sphere of her home. Freeman's “Revolt of Mother,” illustrates an alternative means of resistance for women who rejected the oppression of patriarchy without a withdrawal from the domestic lifestyle.

    Read More

  • Mary Wollstonecraft Feminism Analysis

    873 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mary Wollstonecraft was the spear head of feminism in early England. She brought thoughts and arguments against societal norms into the minds of many that her book, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, became household knowledge throughout the United States. Her writings and radical ideas gave her the nickname of the Mother of Feminism of the early feminist movement. Likewise, Karl Marx published his Communist Manifesto in England. His writing aroused many thoughts focused on the class norms that existed throughout the world. Both, the Communist Manifesto and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, fight the exploitation of their respective classes and cause.

    Read More

  • Women as Abolitionists and Activists

    1489 Words  | 3 Pages

    Women have always been fighting for the rights of others and rights for themselves; they’ve stated time after time that everyone should be equal. Equality in America meant everything to women; equality between whites and blacks, Native Americans and whites, and women and all of America. “There is a great stir about colored men getting their rights, but not a word about the colored women; and if colored men get their rights, and not colored women theirs, you see the colored men will be masters over the women,” (DuPont 12; Lewis). Passages such as the pervious sentence are just a few of many that express women’s feelings towards women’s rights and suffrage. However, women did want changes in rights for all people, but with women being women it caused a problem with people taking them seriously. In this research paper, I will be addressing three women who were abolitionists and/or activists.

    Read More

  • Women in the Enlightenment

    1393 Words  | 3 Pages

    Wollstonecraft, Mary. “A Vindication of the Rights of Women with Structures on Political and Moral

    Read More

  • Women In Society: A Vindication Of The Rights Of Women?

    1220 Words  | 3 Pages

    Women today are still viewed as naturally inferior to men, despite the considerable progress done to close this gap. Females have made a huge difference in their standing from 200 years ago. Whether anyone is sexist or not, females have made considerable progress from where they started, but there is still a long journey ahead. Mary Wollstonecraft was an advocate of women 's rights, a philosopher, and an English writer. One of Wollstonecraft’s best works was “A Vindication of the Rights of Women” (1792). In her writing, she talks about how both men and women should be treated equal, and reasoning could create a social order between the two. In chapter nine of this novel, called “Of the Pernicious Effects Which Arise from the Unnatural Distinctions Established in Society,”

    Read More

  • Mary Wollstonecraft

    1202 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mary Wollstonecraft was a self-educated, radical philosopher who wrote about liberation, and empowering women. She had a powerful voice on her views of the rights of women to get good education and career opportunities. She pioneered the debate for women’s rights inspiring many of the 19th and the 20th century’s writers and philosophers to fight for women’s rights, as well. She did not only criticize men for not giving women their rights, she also put a blame on women for being voiceless and subservient. Her life and, the surrounding events of her time, accompanied by the strong will of her, had surely affected the way she chose to live her life, and to form her own philosophies.

    Read More

  • Pride And Prejudice And A Vindication Of The Rights Of Women

    694 Words  | 2 Pages

    She discusses that women should have an education equivalent to their position in society, stating that women are crucial to society because they educate their children and woman can be "companions" to their husbands, instead of just being the housewife. Rather than viewing women as an accessory to society or a property that can be traded in marriage, Wollstonecraft argues that woman are human beings just as men, and they deserve the same primary rights as men. Of course, her message was more persuasive, she was writing about women having equal rights like men and she championed women’s emancipation and critiqued conventional femininity. She argued that women are not naturally inferior; they only lack education comparable to men. “It is time to effect a revolution in female manners—time to restore to them their lost dignity—and make them, as a part of the human species, labour by reforming themselves to reform the world”

    Read More

More about What Is Wollstonecraft's Argument For The Emancipation Of Women

Open Document