Lit Theory - Wollstonecroft - A Vindication of the Rights of Women

Wollstonecroft

1.     A Vindication of the Rights of Women.

a.     Places a position that men do not see women having sufficient strength of mind to acquire what really deserves to be called virtue.

                                               i.     Women are told from infancy and reinforced by their mothers that they need the protection of men.

                                              ii.     Men suppress women by keeping them in a state of childhood.

1.     Childhood, as applied to men or women, is considered a weakness and insulting.

                                            iii.     Women must be allowed knowledge and education at the same level as men.  “Allowed to turn to the sun.”

b.     Women need individual education that:

                                               i.     Forms temperament and regulates the passions, that will

                                              ii.     Slowly sharpen the senses and set understanding at work before maturity.

                                            iii.     That women are ready learn at maturity and not have to start over.

                                            iv.     Men and women must be educated by some extent by the manners and opinions of society.

                                              v.     The best education will form the body and the heart to follow habits of virtue to render it independent.

c.      Society must change before there is a change in education, as well as women must resign the arbitrary power of beauty.

d.     The subjects (academics) of female education have contributed to rendering women artificial, weak of character, and useless members of society.

e.     Women have been degraded by rendering them pleasing at the expense of solid virtue.

f.      Causes that prevent their understanding and sharpening of their senses:

                                               i.     Disregard to order.  Lack of exacting education like men.

                                              ii.     Learning by piecemeal. 

                                            iii.     Women aren’t challenged by education.

                                            iv.     Cultivation of learning is secondary to corporeal accomplishments.

g.     Strengthen the mind of women and there will be an end to blind obedience.  Unfortunately those in power seek blind obedience.

h.     Forms a position that prevailing attitudes lead back to Eve being a rib of Adam.

i.       Forms a position that the virtues men seek should be allowed and recognized by women.