The Mother of Feminism: Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Voice in a Male-Dominated Society
The Mother of Feminism: Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Voice in a Male-Dominated Society
A Society is how a country organizes community living by giving security and identity to its people. It helps influence the minds of many by establishing common interests which impact the way people view different subjects and matters. In the society during the Enlightenment period, women were valued as creatures that were secondary to men. They were seen as short-lived beauties, only able to acquire power and significance through producing healthy offspring, as it was their primary role in society (Wollstonecraft 114). Discrimination towards the female race was very common, and it influenced the minds of both men and women. However, as the Enlightenment period unfolded, more people started to think in more logical and open-minded ways, giving birth to many interesting concepts such as equality, and the freedom of mankind. Mary Wollstonecraft, a well-educated woman who lived during this period, showed interest in topics concerning freedom and equality. During her time, she was one of the few women who pondered big questions like, “What action is needed for women to gain equality in a male-dominated society?” just out of curiosity. As she began to take act and create wonderful masterpieces, more people took notice of topics about women independence and they either supported it, or went against it. The era of Mary Wollstonecraft marked the beginning of significant changes concerning female injsustice and perspectives toward women in her society through her published work, the Vindication of the Rights of Woman. The issue of women independence was brought to the fore. She was also a most potent example of a woman who lived an independent life.
As the Issue of the Rights of Man brought forth the American and French Revolutions, Mary Wollstonecraft wrote the feminist declaration of independence, the Vindication of the Rights of Woman (Wollstonecraft, 7). Wollstonecraft was
A Society is how a country organizes community living by giving security and identity to its people. It helps influence the minds of many by establishing common interests which impact the way people view different subjects and matters. In the society during the Enlightenment period, women were valued as creatures that were secondary to men. They were seen as short-lived beauties, only able to acquire power and significance through producing healthy offspring, as it was their primary role in society (Wollstonecraft 114). Discrimination towards the female race was very common, and it influenced the minds of both men and women. However, as the Enlightenment period unfolded, more people started to think in more logical and open-minded ways, giving birth to many interesting concepts such as equality, and the freedom of mankind. Mary Wollstonecraft, a well-educated woman who lived during this period, showed interest in topics concerning freedom and equality. During her time, she was one of the few women who pondered big questions like, “What action is needed for women to gain equality in a male-dominated society?” just out of curiosity. As she began to take act and create wonderful masterpieces, more people took notice of topics about women independence and they either supported it, or went against it. The era of Mary Wollstonecraft marked the beginning of significant changes concerning female injsustice and perspectives toward women in her society through her published work, the Vindication of the Rights of Woman. The issue of women independence was brought to the fore. She was also a most potent example of a woman who lived an independent life.
As the Issue of the Rights of Man brought forth the American and French Revolutions, Mary Wollstonecraft wrote the feminist declaration of independence, the Vindication of the Rights of Woman (Wollstonecraft, 7). Wollstonecraft was
Bibliography: Written/Books: Wollstonecraft, Mary. Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Ed. Brody, Miriam. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1985. Arthur N. Applebee, Andrea B. Bermudez, Sheridan Blau, Rebekah Caplan, Peter Elbow, Susan Hynds, Judith A. Langer, and James Marshall. The Language of Literature: British Literature. Evanston: Illinois, 2006. Electronic: Ovidious. “Mary Wollstonecraft, Vindication of the Rights of Women and Patriarchal Society”. http://www.alempres.com. 2007. 22 February, 2009. . Online Article: Lewis, John Johnson. “Mary Wollstonecraft”. Online posting. 2009. About. 22 February, 2009. . Multimedia: Ferreri, Kirsten. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Alex Foster, Kristen McQuillin, David Barnes, Carl Manchester, Margaine, Denny Sayers, J.M. Smallheer, Betsie Bush, Corie Samuel, Jen Kidd, and Caitlin Kelly. Librivox, 2007.