A VIndication of Women's Rights

What is our purpose in life? Should a man be the protector, the provider, and foremost the father of his family? Should he lead like a king, his subjects his children and wife? The roles of men and women have been debated for centuries and A Vindication of Women’s Rights explores these roles, crushing the common beliefs that existed at the time. Wolestonecraft believes that

Women are told from their infancy, and taught by the example of their mothers, that a little knowledge of human weakness, justly termed cunning, softness of temper, outward obedience, and a scrupulous attention to a puerile kind of propriety, will obtain for them the protection of man; and should they be beautiful, every thing else is needless, for, at least, twenty years of their lives.

There is a lot of truth in this opinion still today. The author describes women as the suppressed side of the human race. In a still male dominated world, where strong women are often considered masculine and even feared in some cases, these stereotypes are alive even after hundreds of years of war against them. It is ironic that in a world that seems to constantly talk change, in a lot of ways the world has gone back to tradition in many aspects of life. Morals and values originate so deep in our traditional upbringing, especially in the United States, that change is almost nonexistent. We adapt and advance, but our morals, values, and beliefs remain constant.

She sources the traditional female inferiority all the way back through the bible to the very creation of humankind. Eve being created from man is cited by many as rationale for these common held beliefs. Wolestonecraft even goes as far as saying if women don’t break free of the common beliefs and simply continue to submit to the wills of men, then they deserve to be considered inferior. I find it interesting that throughout the paper, even though it is obvious that she has strong opinions, she very carefully portrays them in order to prevent her from sounding too strong or offensives. She deliberately avoids direct confrontation with beliefs she has a problem with while carefully and strategically tears them down at the same time.

I find this fact ironic. It is easy to tell that the author is a revolutionary and a very strong women, yet she shares her opinion with care as to not offend her readers. This seems silly because the whole purpose of the writing and the message that comes across is confrontational to the norms of society.

In addition to attacking the norms that hold down women, the author also goes after humankinds submissive outlook on God himself. She believes, and rightfully so, that instead of being independent and strong, women and men alike depend on religion instead of using it at a tool to learn and thrive. With education comes power and independence. And women, in her time especially, did not receive the education they needed. In order to break the norms of society, and change and become greater than ever before, our generation must be educated like never before.