How Did Mary Wolstonecraft Believe In A Vindication Of The Rights Of Women

During the late eighteenth century, world powers, such as Great Britain and the United States, were advancing technologically, scientifically, and politically. However, while these nations were improving in many ways, the majority's opinion on the education, and general intelligence of women, still held a diminished view. In Mary Wollstonecraft's book, A Vindication of the Rights of Women, she argued for the equal treatment and education of men and women. That said, it is evident that many news sources from the late 18th century United States, believed that women were still inferior to men; that if they were to educate women, it would be primarily to entertain their husbands and better educate their children, and that due to this lack of education,
They are taught that dressing feminine and being fragile are more valuable to men than intelligence. So, women are raised to have this distorted mindset about what's truly important, and as a result, never amount to their full intellectual potential. It is apparent that some individuals from Wollstonecraft's time agree that women are lacking sensibility and care too much about pleasing men. One article expresses this concern by stating, “Women are in such a state of strange infatuation, that I fear they will never be made sensible of the dignity of their characters...how different are the majority employed, in conquering the hearts, instead of subduing the vices of men!”(From the Gazette of the United States). This article from the New Hampshire Sentinel, helps validate Wollstonecraft's argument about women being ignorant as a result of letting their emotions dictate their choices. It also explains that, if they were more sensible, women would have a greater influence over situations. Additionally, in the Vindication of the Rights of Women, it says that women are judgemental of others, particularly rivals to other women (Wollstonecraft, 210). Likewise, according to the Albany Chronicle on Friendship, the author writes, “Friendship between females is sometimes strong but seldom durable. Their executive sensibility awakens jealousy, their sprightliness and candor lead them imperceptibly to indiscretion in betraying each other's secrets”. Initially, it sounds as though this author is praising women for being so logical that it’s hard for them to keep friends, but, this writing actually strengthens what Wollstonecraft was saying to begin with. Many people believe that women are too sensitive and lack the level headedness that men possess, which ultimately leads to conflict between them. Wollstonecraft believes that if they were given an education this