Mary Astell Thesis

Mary Astell Born November 12, 1666 in England, Mary Astell was the first British feminist writer, nonfiction writer, essayist, and poet. Her published work consisted of argumentative issues about women's education, marriage, and political and religious philosophy. Specifically relating to the status of women, Astell thought about numerous controversial concerns of the era in her essays and pamphlets which were distributed anonymously to keep her identity a secret. Astell stood for her belief that women should not be obligated into marriage and helped the thought of a Protestant equivalent of a convent, where unmarried women could be able to devote themselves to education and religious responsibilities, in such pamphlets as "A Serious Proposal To The Ladies For The Advancement Of Their True And Greatest Interest" (1694) and "Some Reflections Upon Marriage" (1700). In addition to, Astell showed herself to be a perceptive critic of the social theories of, The Father of Liberalism, John Locke, in "Some Reflections Upon Marriage" and other writings, involving "The Christian Religion As Profess'd By A Daughter Of The Church Of England" (1705). Astell was a complicated figure whose approval of the monarchy and the Anglican Church is every now and then seen as contradictory to
Astell suggests a brand new kind of institution for women, an institution much like a secular convent, a place where women could go to live, study, learn, and teach. This work had at least four editions, and was followed by "A Serious Proposal to the Ladies Part II. Wherein a Method Is Off'd for the Improvement of their Minds" in 1697. A response to disagreements to Astell's original suggestion, this work attempted a way for women to educate themselves, comment on the philosophy behind potential procedures, and discusses the search for