Wollstonecraft

“But what are women to do in society? I may be asked, but to loiter with easy grace; surely you would not condemn them all to suckle fools and chronicle small beer” (Wollstonecraft 755).Mary Wollstonecraft wrote about the equality of the woman during her times in the late 1700’s. She believed that woman should be able to choose their duties. “For when they neglect domestic duties, they have it not in their own power to take the field and march and counter-march like soldiers,” (Wollstonecraft 753). Wollstonecraft believed that if woman chose to be soldiers, then they could be soldiers, as this shows equality between the men and woman. Wollstonecraft stated, “There must be equality established in society” (748). She felt that woman should be completely independent from man and that if she chose to nurse in the war than to commit to her duties at home, than she had that right. “The being who discharges the duties of its station is independent; and, speaking of woman at large, their first duty is to themselves as rational creatures, ad the next point of importance, as citizens,….(Wollstonecraft 753). As society progressed, up until now, more woman have become independent and the equality of man and woman will continue to grow as more cultures begin to accept it as a new society. Wollstonecraft wanted to express that woman could choose what is more important to them, and that back then it meant if they wanted to go to war, then they could fight with men.



Works Cited
Wollstonecraft, Mary. “Pernicious Effects Which Arise from the Unnatural Distinction Established in Society.” A World of Ideas: Essential Reading for College Writers. Lee A. Jacobs. 7th Ed. New York; Bedford St. Martins, 2006. pp 748-758.