By Vanessa Leung Class of 2025

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: How Feminism Was Founded in Dominant Patriarchy

Editor’s Note: The History Fellowship program offers students the opportunity to conduct college-level independent research on a historical topic of their choice, resulting in a substantial academic paper and oral presentation. Through guided discussions, structured support, and access to both on- and off-campus sources, students learn and apply the practices of professional historians.

“But I still insist, that not only the virtue, but the knowledge of the two sexes should be the same in nature, if not in degree, and that women, considered not only as moral, but rational creatures, ought to endeavour to acquire human virtues (or perfections) by thesame means as men, instead of being educated like a fanciful kind of half being.” These words are taken from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft, an English writer and Enlightenment Thinker in the late eighteenth century. She is also considered one of history’s first feminists. Many of her written works promote gender equality by arguing or equal education for both sexes and opposing female stereotypes. In the quote above, Wollstonecraft argues that values and knowledge should be the same for both sexes because women are as capable as men and should be respected as “rational creatures” instead of sentimental “half being[s].” In the spirit of the Enlightenment, which strove for liberty and rights, Mary Wollstonecraft lived a daring life, testing boundaries and contesting social norms. Self-educated and bold, she took inspiration from her personal life and used knowledge to spread her belief that change for women was possible and defiance could lead the way.

This paper studies Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman and examines two of the factors influencing her pioneering feminism: Wollstonecraft’s personal life and the Enlightenment’s popular ideas, many inspired from the classical world. Mary grew up with a violent father, which led her to challenge gender-based injustice. Fortunately, Mary’s close friendships comforted her tumultuous life, and her rebellious mindset made her seek inspiration from, and change for, women. While Wollstonecraft adopted ideas from Plato, Aristotle, and Athenian democracy, she rejected the underlying patriarchy of Greco-Roman culture and expanded rights to women.

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