Marry Wollstonecraft Womens Right - Research Paper Example

Marry Wollstonecraft Women’s Right Introduction Marry Wollstonecraft was an eighteenth century British philosopher, writer and advocate of the women’s right. She wrote novels as well as travel narratives. She had her contribution in writing books for all ages during her entire career. The lady is popular for her master piece named “A Vindication of the Rights of Women”. It is an effective work of feminist philosophy and one of the most ancient of her times. In this book, she argued that women are naturally mediocre to the men. She suggested that both women and men should be treated as the rationally (Taylor 238). It will help to develop an effective and significant social order. This report will describe a brief summary of the life of Marry Wollstonecraft. In addition to this, the report will discuss about the above mentioned master piece. Discussion “A Vindication of the rights of Women” was published in the year 1792. This book of philosophy is based on the rights of women in society. In Western Europe, married women lost their individual legal identity and single women had minimal protection under the law during the eighteenth century. In addition to this, women could not avail the rights to sign a legal contract, retain a lawyer for individual legal needs and inherit property. Most importantly the women during that period of time did not have the right over their children. The wife and husband were considered as one person during that era. The women generally lost their legal existence right after marriage. Mary Wollstonecraft created a huge sensation in the year 1792 by writing the book based on women’s right in society named “A Vindication of the rights of Women”. She declared that men and women should be treated with equal rights to liberty, pursuit of happiness and life. She appealed for women to become knowledgeable and educated. She persisted women should be allowed and free to pursue professional careers, enter into business and vote if they ever wished as these are their morale rights. According to Mary Wollstonecraft, “I speak of the improvement and emancipation of the whole sex” (Powell 1). In addition to this, Mary Wollstonecraft declared that “Let woman share the rights, and she will emulate the virtues of man; for she must grow more perfect when emancipated” (Powell 1). Mary Wollstonecraft was able to inspire the community and people within it as she used to speak from the heart. Her writings were easily understandable but she used to provide examples and facts from her own turbulent experience. According to Mary Wollstonecraft, “There is certainly an original defect in my mind” (Powell 1). She confessed that “for the cruelest experience will not eradicate the foolish tendency I have to cherish, and expect to meet with, romantic tenderness” (Powell 1). Mary Wollstonecraft passionately tried to give proper rights to the women in the society. She was a full-time professional writer. She used to write on serious and complex subjects without having an aristocratic sponsor. She had that much courage to share her views through her writing with the aim or objective to improve the scenario of the society (Brody 99). She had to struggle hard as the women were conventionally cherished for several domestic services. Mary Wollstonecraft developed her sheer skills on scanty earnings. Several contemporaries noted the provocative presence of Mary Wollstonecraft. In “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman”, Mary Wollstonecraft responds to the political and educational theorists of the late 18th century. Several political and educational theorists did not believe that women should avail the right and needs of education. She continuously argued that women have the right to education as the women are the first teachers of their children. In addition to this, she stated that education will help a woman to give company to her husband in difficult situations. According to her philosophy, women should deserve their fundamental rights rather than viewing women as property to be treated in case of marriages or ornaments of the society (Shukla 2). Mary Wollstonecraft called for equality between the two sexes i.e. men and women in specific areas of life like morality. According to her views, women are generally treated as the domestic service providers. They have the ability to manage all the external and internal things effectively. In addition to these, women are living in the same society and community. Moreover, they are making effective contribution in several aspects. Therefore, it is necessary for them to avail several fundamental rights. Her book was well received in the initial time period but her philosophies were misunderstood in this modern era. Mary Wollstonecraft issued an ultimate call for suffrage of women. According to her philosophy, government of a country or a state needs to think over the matter very seriously. Women cannot be kept in home or society as an ornament or show piece. She wrote in “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” that “I really think that women ought to have representatives, instead of being arbitrarily governed without having any direct share allowed them in the deliberations of government” (Powell 1). Several theorists and philosophers tried to bring women down from the societal perspective. But Mary Wollstonecraft tried hard to prove them wrong. She always believed that education can be considered as the salvation of women. It is true that exercise of understanding of the women is necessary as there is no other institution that can educate women or make them realize about their exercises. She dreamed of several significant things. She estimated that women should avail the rights to have education. In addition to this, the women can have that much individuality and freedom so that they can enter into professional career and businesses. Mary Wollstonecraft never underestimated the rights of men. She appealed to the society, regulatory bodies and government that women should have all the fundamental rights similar to the men as both men and women have significant contribution to the society. A mother and a wife are considered as the best manager of a society. Their effective contribution to the nation or the community or the society can help the country to attain significant growth from various perspectives. Her philosophy and books helped men and women in this modern era to nurture each other as equal individuals in terms of fundamental rights. Now-a-days, both men and women are effectively contributing towards the society. Their collaborative working and effective mutual understanding is somehow helping the communities of a country to achieve social growth. It is important to keep a balance within a society. Equality in terms of fundamental rights among men and women can help a nation to grow at a significant rate. Her philosophy and writing inspired entire community and society to understand the significance of the education for women. Conclusion Mary Wollstonecraft was a famous writer, philosopher and feminist treatise. Her “A Vindication of the rights of Women” book was based on fundamental rights of women and women’s need for education. Several political and educational theorists had opposed her views but her emotional and reasonable writing helped her to attract entire community to make them understand about the significance of the education for the women. However, her writing was misunderstood by several individuals. But considering recent scenario where both men and women are contributing effectively to the social and communal growth of a country it can be stated that her philosophy and writing somehow helped the women to achieve fundamental and morale rights to education, life and several social aspects. Works Cited Brody, Mirriam. Mary Wollstonecraft: Mother of Women’s Rights. London: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print. Powell, Jim. Marry Wollstonecraft- Equal Rights for Women. Inspire Educate Connect, 1 April, 1996. Web. 25 September. 2013. . Shukla, Bhaskar. Feminism. New York: Springer, 2007. Print. Taylor, Barbara. Mary Wollstonecraft and the Feminist Imagination. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Print. Read More