What does she do?
She responds to educational/political theorists in their assumption that women had no rights to education.
Theorists of the 18th c. believed that women should not have an education.
She believed that women should have an education in order to instil their position in society. This is all stemming from romantic ideology. Renee Decarte (sp?) “I think therefore I am”. I think, therefore I become human.
This challenges the age of reason and the social order, which was very much hierarchical and divine in terms of a patriarchal society. Also challenges the age of reason in terms of public duty and emotions governed by personal restraint. She embodies free expression in the chapters, and very much a subjective, introspective view of women. She argues for the rights of women so they can have a position in society. Women are essential to educate children. On a national scale, women are of value as they can be companions to men, rather than their wives. This is instead of viewing women as ornaments and subjective trophies; property.
Age of Reason/neoclassicism very much viewed women as properties to their husbands – to be traded i.e. fathers trading daughters for dowries. Wollstonecraft maintains that women are still human beings and that they are deserving of some fundamental rights as women. Individualism (do not say feminism, not around at this time). Argued for the rights of women - challenged any idea of social responsibility, decorum and discipline of a