howdy, fellas!
Man, oh man, am I excited for this one!
Let's talk about Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, shall we?
My very first thought after reading just the introduction was, "You mean to tell me sexism still exists even after this woman laid all the ignorant reasons for it to rest? After she showed up and showed out?" Believe me, my roommate has now heard me start breathing hard and quickly highlight something in my book countless times now! Ha!
In chapter 2 she wrote, "Women are told from their infancy, and taught by 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." Basically, she calls the bluff on the materialistic desires of women being fleeting and short-term. Why live under the thumb of vanity and a man, when you can experience the freedom of knowledge and self-growth?
She is urging the men, and women alike, to consider women above the role of mere obedient, sweet children.
I almost imagine the women in this period of time as candles. If enlightenment and self-reliance were joined as the flame, then the wick would be the controlled minds of women. But alas, their potential is wasted away by not having the opportunity at lighting the wick. That may not make sense, but it did in my head for a fleeting moment.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from Wollstonecraft:
"Behold, I should answer, the natural effect of ignorance!"
"Will men never be wise?"
"My own sex, I hope, will excuse me, if I treat them like rational creatures, instead of flattering their fascinating graces..."
Song choice: Female by Keith Urban
Commented on: Sydney's & Mary Emma's
Man, oh man, am I excited for this one!
Let's talk about Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, shall we?
My very first thought after reading just the introduction was, "You mean to tell me sexism still exists even after this woman laid all the ignorant reasons for it to rest? After she showed up and showed out?" Believe me, my roommate has now heard me start breathing hard and quickly highlight something in my book countless times now! Ha!
In chapter 2 she wrote, "Women are told from their infancy, and taught by 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." Basically, she calls the bluff on the materialistic desires of women being fleeting and short-term. Why live under the thumb of vanity and a man, when you can experience the freedom of knowledge and self-growth?
She is urging the men, and women alike, to consider women above the role of mere obedient, sweet children.
I almost imagine the women in this period of time as candles. If enlightenment and self-reliance were joined as the flame, then the wick would be the controlled minds of women. But alas, their potential is wasted away by not having the opportunity at lighting the wick. That may not make sense, but it did in my head for a fleeting moment.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from Wollstonecraft:
"Behold, I should answer, the natural effect of ignorance!"
"Will men never be wise?"
"My own sex, I hope, will excuse me, if I treat them like rational creatures, instead of flattering their fascinating graces..."
Song choice: Female by Keith Urban
Commented on: Sydney's & Mary Emma's
Comments
Loved reading you post !