Full nameMary Wollstonecraft Born1759 Influential AreasWriter, philosopher Known ForAdvocacy of women's rights

Mary Wollstonecraft was an 18th century English writer, philosopher, and advocate of womens rights. Her work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, is considered a foundational text in feminist philosophy.

Vision

Mary Wollstonecraft was a pioneering feminist writer and philosopher of the 18th century, best known for her treatise, 'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman'. Her vision was heavily influenced by the Enlightenment ideals of rationality, education, and equality. She believed that both men and women should be treated as rational beings, capable of thought and reason, and deserving of the same fundamental rights.

Wollstonecraft’s vision was centered on the principle of equality. She argued that women were not naturally inferior to men, but appeared to be only because they lacked education. She suggested that both men and women should be co-educated, which was a revolutionary idea at the time. Co-education, according to her, would promote mutual respect between the sexes, rather than the prevailing attitudes of dominance and subservience.

This vision extended beyond education. Wollstonecraft believed that women should have the same opportunities as men in all aspects of society. This included the ability to work in professions traditionally dominated by men, and to participate in government. She argued that women should not be confined to the private sphere of the home, but should have the ability to contribute to public life.

Wollstonecraft’s vision also encompassed the idea of autonomy and self-determination for women. She argued that women should be free to make their own decisions and to live their lives as they saw fit, without the constraints imposed by societal norms and expectations. This freedom, she believed, was essential for women to develop their own individuality and to achieve personal fulfillment.

Moreover, Wollstonecraft’s vision rejected the traditional views of femininity and female beauty. She criticized the notion that women's worth was based on their physical appearance, and instead, advocated for a focus on intellectual and moral virtues. She believed that this shift in emphasis would allow women to be valued for their minds and characters, rather than their physical attributes.

Despite the progressive nature of her vision, Wollstonecraft faced significant opposition and ridicule during her lifetime. However, her ideas have had a lasting impact and have significantly shaped modern feminism. Many of her beliefs, such as the importance of education and equality, remain central to feminist thought today. Furthermore, her vision of women's autonomy and self-determination continues to inspire and inform contemporary debates about women's rights and gender equality.

In conclusion, Mary Wollstonecraft’s vision was a radical and transformative one. It challenged the established norms of her time and laid the groundwork for future feminist thought. Her belief in the rationality and competency of women, the importance of education, and the rights of women to participate fully in society, marked a significant departure from traditional ideas about gender roles. Despite the criticism she faced, her vision has endured and continues to resonate today.

It is worth noting that Wollstonecraft’s vision was not only for women. She believed in a society where everyone, regardless of their gender, could aspire to and achieve the same opportunities. She imagined a world where every individual was valued for their intellect and moral virtue, rather than their physical attributes or societal status. This vision, though revolutionary at the time, continues to inspire and guide the struggle for equality and social justice today.

Indeed, Mary Wollstonecraft’s vision remains as relevant and revolutionary today as it was in the 18th century. Her advocacy for women's rights and equality continues to inspire and shape contemporary feminist thought. Her belief in the inherent rationality and worth of every individual, regardless of their gender, remains a guiding principle in the ongoing struggle for social justice and equality.

Biography

Mary Wollstonecraft, an English writer, philosopher, and advocate of womens rights, was born on the 27th of April, 1759, in Spitalfields, London. Her parents, Edward John Wollstonecraft and Elizabeth Dixon, had a troubled marriage, marred by her fathers violent and unpredictable nature.

Wollstonecrafts early life was challenging, marked by financial instability and a lack of formal education. Her mother was often the victim of her fathers violent outbursts, and Mary would frequently place herself between them to protect her mother. This experience had an immense influence on her later views regarding the subordinate role of women in society.

Despite the lack of formal education, Wollstonecraft was largely self-educated. She read widely, developing a passion for literature and ideas. At the age of 19, she left home and found employment as a lady's companion. However, she soon found this lifestyle stifling and left to start her own school in Newington Green with her sisters and a friend.

The school was moderately successful but had to be closed down when Wollstonecrafts friend and partner left to get married. It was during this time that Wollstonecraft met Richard Price, a leading figure of the radical intellectual circle, the Rational Dissenters. Price became a significant influence on Wollstonecraft, encouraging her intellectual development and introducing her to influential figures such as Thomas Paine and William Godwin.

In 1787, Wollstonecraft moved to London to pursue a career as a writer, a highly unusual ambition for a woman at the time. Her first novel, Mary: A Fiction, was published in 1788. The novel reflected Wollstonecrafts personal experiences and her views on the subordinate role of women in society.

However, it was her second book, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, published in 1792, that made Wollstonecraft a prominent figure in the early feminist movement. In this work, she argued that women were not naturally inferior to men, but appeared to be only because they lacked education. She suggested that both men and women should be treated as rational beings and proposed a social order founded on reason.

During the French Revolution, Wollstonecraft travelled to France, experiencing the political upheaval firsthand. She wrote a history of the revolution, but her pro-revolutionary stance led to her ostracisation in conservative English society.

In France, Wollstonecraft met and fell in love with the American adventurer and author, Gilbert Imlay. Despite her views on marriage, she considered herself Imlays wife and had a daughter, Fanny, with him. However, Imlay left her, causing Wollstonecraft to attempt suicide twice.

Returning to England, Wollstonecraft reunited with her old friend, William Godwin. They fell in love, and despite their mutual dislike of marriage, decided to marry when Wollstonecraft became pregnant. Their marriage was happy but brief, as Wollstonecraft died of puerperal fever ten days after giving birth to her second daughter, Mary, who would later become Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein.

Wollstonecrafts ideas and writings were ahead of her time and she faced much criticism and ridicule during her life. However, her work has since been recognised as foundational to the feminist movement. Her writings on womens rights, rationality, and education continue to influence and inspire movements for gender equality to this day.

Even after her death, Wollstonecraft faced a scandalous reputation. Her husband, William Godwin, published a candid biography of her life, including her illegitimate children, love affairs, and suicide attempts. This led to a backlash and her works were largely ignored for over a century. However, in the late 20th century, there was a revival of interest in Wollstonecraft and her work. Today, she is considered one of the founding feminist philosophers and her contributions to social and political thought are widely recognised and respected.

Awards and Recognition

Mary Wollstonecraft, an influential writer and philosopher of the 18th century, isn’t typically recognized with traditional awards as we know them today. Born in 1759, she lived during a period where women’s contributions were often overlooked and not celebrated with awards or accolades. However, her work and ideas have been recognized and celebrated posthumously.

Wollstonecraft's most significant work, 'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman', is now regarded as one of the founding texts of Western feminism. Her argument that women are not naturally inferior to men, but only appear so because of their lack of education, was revolutionary for the time and continues to influence feminist theory.

In 2005, she was designated a person of national historic significance in Canada for her contributions to women's rights. Her life and work have also been commemorated with a plaque in London's Stoke Newington, where she established a school for girls in 1784, and a statue is being planned for her in Newington Green.

Her influence on literature and social reform has been recognized by academia and the literary community. Many colleges and universities have halls and scholarships named after her, and her books are often included in the curriculum of women's studies and philosophy courses. The Mary Wollstonecraft Philosophical Society was founded in 1989 to honor her work and promote philosophical and feminist education.

Wollstonecraft's impact on the women's rights movement is immeasurable. She inspired generations of women and men to challenge societal norms and fight for gender equality, including her own daughter Mary Shelley, the author of 'Frankenstein'. Her ideas influenced other suffragettes and feminists such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Margaret Fuller, who continued her work long after her death.

Her legacy is also seen in the many books, films, and plays about her life and work. She has been the subject of numerous biographies, including Claire Tomalin's 'The Life and Death of Mary Wollstonecraft', which won the Whitbread Book of the Year award in 1974. In 2007, Lyndall Gordon published 'Vindication: A Life of Mary Wollstonecraft', which was shortlisted for the Biographers' Club Prize.

Today, Wollstonecraft's life and work continue to be celebrated and studied. In 2020, a statue in her honor was unveiled in Newington Green, London. The statue, created by artist Maggi Hambling, has been described as a tribute to 'everywoman' and a monument to the ongoing struggle for women's rights.

While Mary Wollstonecraft may not have been awarded traditional accolades during her lifetime, her influence and recognition have far transcended her time. Her pioneering work for women's rights and educational equality continues to be celebrated and her legacy continues to inspire and influence. She may not have a list of awards to her name, but her impact on society and her enduring relevance are a testament to her remarkable life and work.

pythagoras

ptolemy

queen victoria

marcus tullius cicero

ludwig van beethoven

References

Share with friends

Vision

Biography

Awards and Recognition

References

City of Residence

London

Known For

Advocacy of women's rights

Born

1759

Location

Writer, philosopher

Social Media/Website

N/A

Company Name

N/A

Education

Self-educated

Personal Details

Mary Wollstonecraft was an English writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights. She wrote novels, treatises, a travel narrative, a history of the French Revolution, a conduct book, and a children's book. Wollstonecraft is best known for A Vindicat

Recognition

Wollstonecraft has been regarded as the 'foremother' of the struggle for the rights of women. Her life, which encompassed several unconventional personal relationships, received more attention than her writing. After two ill-fated affairs, with Henry Fuse