Belen Valverde Professor Moreno English 206 3 March 2015
Feminist Theory
“There are many different feminist theories but they all share things in common – they look at the differences in society between men and women and try to see how these problems could be solved” (Bryant). It is important to learn about the feminist theory and how it has changed throughout history. Author Mary Wollstonecraft, is able to add to the feminist theory. Despites the lack of individuality and a lack of independence was able to become a prominent feminist activist figure in the 1700s. Imagine living as a woman before the 1960’s; their rights are denied, they felt trapped in their own home, and discriminated against in the workplace. Mary Wollstonecraft expressed her thoughts in her writings. A literature, piece widely known as "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" by Mary Wollstonecraft expressed how women felt in a society, and how men were hostile to women in their views from their era. Mary Wollstonecraft and Anna Letitia Barbauld both share many similarities ranging from their idea stand on woman equality. The difference in these two writers is the approach of each of their work. This paper will analyze the feminist theory through Mary Wollstonecraft’s and Anana Letitia Barbauld perspective and the living conditions for women during this time.
Anna Letitia Barbauld was well known writer during the eighteenth-century. During the Romantic Period in England women were very oppressed by academic society. Another female writer was Barbauld; she was a successful writer during this time where women were not known for their academic work. Barbauld work earned her the chance to be involved in politics among other fields of study. Also, her work was fundamental to the Romanticism period in England. In “Woman of Letters” by Barbauld was published by multiples genders. In her poem "The Rights of Woman” Barbauld responded to Mary Wollstonecraft’s “Vindication of the Rights of Woman” with a rather sardonic tone. Many of her ideas in her poem were taken out of context. Wollstonecraft questioned many ideas of Barbauld, which could have led to the negative response to Wollstonecraft “Vindication of the Rights of Woman”. Barbauld’s work was fundamental in the 1980s during the rise of feminist literary. A well known philosopher and writer during the nineteenth century was Mary Wollstonecraft. She ridiculed prevailing notions about women being helpless and charming adornments in the household. Education held the key to achieving a sense of self respect and a new self image that would enable women to put their capacities to good use. She is best known for “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” published in 1792. In which advocating equality of the sexes, and the main doctrines of later women’s movement, made her famous during this era. This writing focused on the flaws of marriage and education. She desired all women to be educated and not to depend on a man. Today Wollstonecraft and Anna Letitia Barbauld are both consider two of the first founders of feminist theory.
Women are affected by historical and contemporary societal factors. Throughout the nineteenth and eighteenth century, female poetics were fighting for equality. In 1791, Anna Letitia Barbauld protested against the role of women in society in her poem, "The Rights of Woman”. Long before the time of feminism in England, Barbauld's poem was a call to action. "Yes, injured Woman! rise, assert thy right! Woman! too long degraded, scorned, opprest; / O born to rule in partial Law's despite, Resume thy native empire o'er the breast!" (Greenblatt, Pg. 1393). Barbauld hints at the unfair treatment of women by the British "law" of the era. Besides author Barbauld many other women authors voiced her opinions on women discrimination. In “The Rights of Woman” by Anna Letitia Barbauld called on the entire woman’s generation to