Vindication of the Rights of Women is written by a British Feminist Mary Wollstonecraft in the 18th century, and contribute significantly to feminist philosophy. The author emphasizes on feminism and the significance of intellect in the pursuit of women to become strong in physically and psychologically. She responds to political as well as educational theorists who suppressed the rights of women in the 18th century.
She points out that weakness which is portrayed in being sentimental, choosy and being susceptible is not the way out for women rather, they have to acquire education and cultivate their rightful position.
She tries to transform the view towards women in the society as she states that “ These pretty nothings, these caricatures of the real beauty of sensibility, dropping glibly from the tongue, vitiate the taste, and create a kind of sickly delicacy that turns away from simple unadorned truth; and a deluge of false sentiments and over-stretched feelings, stifling the natural emotions of the heart, render the domestic pleasures insipid, that ought to sweeten the exercise of those severe duties, which educate a rational and immortal being for a nobler field of action” (Wollstonecraft 15).
From the book, it is clear that the author maintains a clear motive that women have equal rights as men in the society by being companions to men other than being viewed as ornaments, marriage property. At the time, the book would have a significant effect on the culture in the sense that it addressed an important issue of feminism after the French Revolution having triggered heated debates in Britain.
It was a time when the society had denied women their natural rights which were supposed to be free as having originated from a free giver who is God. In addition, the society had emasculated men and related women to emotions, susceptibility and sensibility. The late 18th century society viewed women as being unable to have a clear thinking due to their susceptibility to emotions.
However, According to Wollstonecraft, women’s education would alleviate their contribution by thinking rationally if and only if they acquired education aided by men (Wollstonecraft 30). Education came in handy as a door opener for women to have their rightful positions which would not only transform their lives significantly and add value to them but also contribute to civilization.
In deed, education has helped women to gain equality and continues to equip them with leadership qualities. Wollstonecraft warns women against succumbing to feelings which degrade their wellbeing hindering them from having rational thinking which in turn harm them as well as the pursuit of civilization.
The author insists that women should not be enslaved due to their sexuality and should become less of their interest. This would affect the contemporary society since women’s sexuality was viciously exercised at the time and its absence would mean gender violence.
Wollstonecraft puts efforts to reestablish republicanism as seen it the fact that she figures out separate feminine and masculine roles insisting that men and women were not to be denied governmental representation. Moreover, Wollstonecraft may have contributed to the class system in the contemporary society since she supported middle class and disregards wealth class referring them as corrupt.
To the poor, she points out that they were lucky since they would not be ensnared by effects of wealth. The class distinction, would affect the contemporary society hence aggravating the already existing problem.