Feminism in Development

Mary Wollstonecraft is an example of a practiced feminist in the early stages of women's rights. She presents an educated argument with valid points that opposed sexism deeply ingrained into that generation's culture. What I find unusual is that many of the early feminist writers or activists had stronger arguments and were overall more convincing in their arguments than modern feminists, despite vastly superior access to education. Perhaps this is because the issues are apparent in retrospect, while I'm socialized into thinking there are no longer major women's rights issues. Regardless of this, Wollstonecraft makes a clear stand for women against the men of that time, and also against women of that time that were unaware of their oppression. "My own sex, I hope, will excuse me, if I treat them like rational creatures, instead of flattering their fascinated graces, and viewing them as if they were in a state of perpetual childhood, unable to stand alone. I earnestly wish to point out in what true dignity and human happiness consists-I wish to persuade women to endeavor to acquire strength, both of mind and body, and to convince them that the soft phrases, susceptibility of heart, delicacy of sentiment, and refinement of taste, are almost synonymous with epithets of weakness, and that those beings who are only the objects of pity and that kind of love, which has been termed its sister, will soon become objects of contempt (100)." "I am aware of an obvious inference: -from every quarter have I heard exclamation against masculine women; but where are they to be found? If by this appellation men mean to inveigh against their ardour in hunting, shooting, and gaming, I shall most cordially join in the cry; but if it be against the imitation of manly virtues, or, more properly speaking, the attainment of those talents and virtues, the exercise of which ennobles the human character, and which raise females in the scale of animal being, when they are comprehensively termed mankind; -all those who view them with a philosophic eye must, I should think, wish with me, that they may every day grow more and more masculine (99)." "The education of women has, of late, been more attended to than formerly; yet they are still reckoned a frivolous sex, and ridiculed or pitied by the writers who endeavor by satire or instruction to improve them. It is acknowledged that they spend many of the first years of their lives in acquiring a smattering of accomplishments; meanwhile strength of body and mind are sacrificed to libertine notions of beauty, to the desire of establishing themselves, -the only way women can rise in the world, -by marriage. And this desire making mere animals of them, when they marry they act as such children ma be expected to act: -they dress; they paint, and nickname God’s creatures. Surely these weak beings are only fit for a seraglio! –Can they be expected to govern a family with judgment, or take care of the poor babies whom they bring into the world (101)?" "Many individuals have more sense than their male relatives; and, as nothing preponderates where there is a constant struggle for an equilibrium, without it has naturally more gravity, some women govern their husbands without degrading themselves, because intellect will always govern (102)." "Though, to reason on Rousseau’s ground, if man did attain a degree of perfection of mind when his body arrived at maturity, it might be proper, in order to make a man and his wife one, that she should rely entirely on his understanding; and the graceful ivy, clasped the oak that supported it, would form a whole in which strength and beauty would be equally conspicuous. But, alas! Husbands, as well as their helpmates, are often only overgrown children; nay, thanks to early debauchery, scarcely men in their outward form –and if the blind lead the blind, one need not come from heaven to tell us the consequence (105)."

Honestly Mary does a pretty good job of speaking for herself about what characteristics women should strive for are so I used primarily quotes. She speaks at length about men limiting women's access to education and the struggles that can cause for the men because of their lack of understanding about the world.