Mary Wollstonecraft

Mary Wollstonecraft
She was one of the first women to try to write for a living. Though originally the family had money, her father squandered it away on alcoholism. Her life was one that was very non-conventionl. Mary had started to fail school, attempted suicide, had a child out of wedlock, and had two affairs. Mary became a publisher.

- She published her response to Burke six weeks after he got published
- Wollstonecraft wasn't taken very seriously during her life
- Her life overshadowed her ideas and writings
- It made her famous, but also made it so no one took her as a serious person
- She died giving birth to Mary Shelley from an infection she got a couple weeks later

Her husband then published all of her writing, including personal letters. Most of the works were considered trash and did a fairly decent job to dishevel her already tattered reputation. She was the "poison" of perception and quoting her was not something one should do unless they wanted to become a social leper as well.

However, during the second wave of feminism her writings were picked back up and her work began to be taken seriously. Especially in the 1960s-70s.

"A Vindication of the Rights of Women"
1791
- The Revolution came about French assembly
- People needed to be educated
   - Education to all - men that is. Wollstonecraft wanted to change this, equality in education should be for all

The Role of Women in 1791
- Gender isn't something that you can choose it's how God made you
- Look pretty and make babies/an ornaments
- Little in way of education - sew, paint/draw, french language, play instruments
- Entertaining partner to future husband
- Attitude of plesantness to men - subserviant
- Beautiful language, no use for that
- Learned behaviors/ learned helplessness
- "God" was mentioned for the sake of audience more than anything
- She was appealing to her audience - speaking to the men

Women's Natural State - Sex (biology)
- Women are equal to men with their virtue
- Physically weaker/inferior
- Same rights they're entitled to
- Procreation/ being a wife is the purpose of women
- She is limited by cultural experiences
     - Or is she using her wit?

Virtue
- Women are morally responsible for their sins, women have souls
- Meaning they have capacity to make choices
- Women have the ability to pick right over wrong
     - e.g. intellectual capacity
- Or rational capacity
- "Sameness" of type between men and women, not the same degree
- Wollstonecraft wasn't saying women have to be equal to men, but things could be better/improved
     - Or should women be equal?
- Equality could be attained within homes only
- Men are responsible for women's rational capacity to improve so women could be more virtuous
- Her goal was to introduce the topic into discussion

Women in Modern Times
- Women outnumber men in undergraduate institutions
- English is feminized
- Gender expectations
     - Sexy
     - Superwoman - they should be a mom, home-maker, controlled, be in a workforce, etc.