Femininity in Wollstonecraft
based it off her experiences as a governess-
rhetorical question- how would the message of this text changed if she had taught young boys rather than young girls
Wollstonecraft's Position
Mary Wollstonecraft is known for her strong advocacy for women's rights as an Enlightenment philosopher during the late 1700s. She is considered one of the founding feminists for her work and arguments that influenced many later on. She argued property and contract rights and economic independence and she was in favor of women taking part in government. (Meany, 2019). As an advocate for women's rights, she tried to reform the world through calling for universality, instead of local manners and sensualist persuasions that illustrate women as lacking strength in virtue of character (Maoulidi, 2007). She desired an even playing field amongst men and women where intellectual abilities and virtues are judged the same and therefore her fight for women did not solely address the place and rights of women but called out the position and privilege of men (Maoulidi, 2007).As evident in Original Stories, Wollstonecraft believed that what one gets out of hard work/exertion and effort is what allows one to achieve economic independence not the possession of wealth (Halldenius, 2017). It was suggested during the time period, that it was the right thing for women to do by marrying for financial support. Wollstonecraft offers the perspective that supporting ones self is not enough. Being able to economically support oneself is a central idea to Wollstonecraft's feminist approach.