The Founding Mother of Feminism
Mary Wollstonecraft: Woman, Feminist, Legend
Women! Continue your Fight for Equality!
A Vindication of The Rights of Women is considered the basis of modern feminist ideals, and Mary Wollstonecraft was the Founding Mother of modern liberal feminism. Written during the 19th century, she spoke her mind, in which many refused to hear her words of wisdom. Her life both fascinating and harrowing, she fought love, suicide, and anti-feminists to trailblaze a path that would not be walked for another hundred years.
Independence I have long considered as the grand blessing of life, the basis of every virtue and independence I will ever secure by contracting my wants, though I were to live on a barren heath. ~Mary Wollstonecraft
("Mary Wollstonecraft Quotes")
The Founder of Feminism
Wollstonecraft was ahead of her time. Most people didn't even believe feminism could be a serious topic back in the 19th century. Most men thought women were easily controlled, and that if women could be educated in a certain way, that men would always have control over women. Wollstonecraft's inspiration was the education that women were getting, but she didn't stop there. Wollstonecraft essentially gave priceless knowledge to a lot of women, but it didn't catch fire until the Suffragette movement in the early 20th century that women embraced Wollstonecraft's work and put it to use (Crossan, PRI.org). Now, the feminist movement is stronger than ever, and more people should read A Vindication of the Rights of Women.
Citations
Crossan, Andrea. "Why Mary Wollstonecraft Was an 18th Century Feminist Rock Star." Public Radio International. N.p., 06 Mar. 2015. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
"Mary Wollstonecraft Quotes.” Essential Life Skills. Essential Life Skills, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.