Anna Barbauld

Anna Barbauld wrote a response to Mary Wollstonecraft's "Vindication of the Rights of Woman".

The Rights of Woman
- It took a long time for rights to kick in so Mary Wollstonecraft's beginning of the discussion wasn't taken into place yet
- Audience was more geared towards men
- It could be said that Barbauld agreed with Wollstonecraft, but didn't want to be associated with the eccentric feminist
- It could also be said that Barbauld was just being sarcastic in her response
- Wollstonecraft argued for education, did Barbauld agree with education for women?
- When you're in love, equality doesn't matter
- Perhaps she thnks Wollstonecraft isn't satisfied with what it means to be a woman
- Barbauld was just a conservative woman and and just thought Wollstonecraft was wrong
- The Rights of Woman was sarcastic, perhaps
- Within education boys and girls were to study different subjects

Barbauld was well educated, so clearly not all women were silly and uneducated. Also to publish writing is to claim attention and that could be seen as a more masculine action.

Feminist
- Has a negative connotation
- It can be over-the-top and some see it as almost an equality isn't enough for them, they want to be more powerful than the men
- "Femi-nazi" with the connotation of being a mega-feminist

The Mansfield Act
1772
- In England they banned slavery at their shores
     - You got to the shores of England and you could put an end to your slavery

1791
William Wilberforce
- Went to ends to get rid of slavery, though his bill is defeated hugely
1807
Bill to abolish the slave trade in the Colonies
- You can't take slaves from Africa
- However, the ones you already have are still allowed

1833
- Colonial slavery abolished

Epistle and The Rights of Women
- Slavery is bad, but women don't need more rights
- Women became property upon marriage
     - Beating was okay, as long as the rod is no bigger than your thumb
- Barbauld doesn't get the women - in this time period - were similar to slaves
     - Locked up
     - Children belong to the Father
     - Beatings were a possibility
     - All belongings belong to the husband
- The country is to blame for slavery, because it allows it to exist