Mary Wollstonecraft: The First Feminist

“Mary Wollstonecraft was an English writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights”. She was born in Spitalfields, London on April 27th, 1759. Daughter of Edward John Wollstonecraft and Elizabeth Dixon. She was a second child of seven and was raised by a father who wasn't a very successful business man and who was very abusive especially to her mother. She left home at the age of 19 to earn her own livelihood. Between 1778 and 1780, Wollstonecraft worked as a lady’s companion in Bath. She later returned home after finding our about her mothers illness in 1780. After her mothers death she lived with the Blood family for two years. She then found out about her sisters marriage and newborn daughter. Mary then took her sister Eliza away from …show more content…
Mary Wollstonecraft Vindication on the Rights of Woman has been and is still used to fight for woman's rights. Her legacy is the impact she has made even though she died about 220 years ago, the influence of her writings and life have been found in many different woman’s rights movements around the world. Some quotes said by Mary are “I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.”, “Virtue can only flourish among equals.” and “Make women rational creatures, and free citizens, and they will quickly become good wives; - that is, if men do not neglect the duties of husbands and fathers.”. These quotes are important to show her character and her attitude toward this subject because it shows how greatly she wanted women and men to be equal. In her mind like she states in the first quote its not that she wanted women to have more rights than men or to have the power to control men, she just wanted women to have the power to control themselves, instead of the men controlling the women. She states in the second quote that the only way for them to have good moral standards and to get along fairly is that they must be equals. And for the third or last quote she is stating that if you make women equal to men, which would make them free citizens that they would become good wives, they would do everything they were suppose to do just with …show more content…
Women couldn’t retain a lawyer, sign a contract, inherit property, vote, or have rights over their children.” This quote shows how bad it really was for women in Mary Wollstonecraft’s days, but she still spoke her opinion and still tried to make a stand. She also showed to us women that we are equal to men, and we shouldn't let them control us, we are free citizens just like they are. She has lead us women to where we are today. We now have the same rights as men do and we are grateful for her lending us a helping hand and guiding us through it