Despite Wollstonecraft’s rabbit hole repetitions, I think she concluded the Vindication of the Rights of Women quite nicely. In chapters six, seven, and eight, she considers the woman’s perception of modesty and virtue and how they are required to have these two traits solely to keep their “good reputation.” In chapters nine, ten, and eleven, she describes the importance and severity of the parent role and how the wrong type can actually lower the value of a woman because of how she is treated as a child.
Of the two halves of the reading assignment, the former is definitely my favorite. While I somewhat agree that we become who our parents are, it’s not always the case. A boy growing up watching his alcoholic father beat his mother may in turn vow to never treat his own wife that way and instead treat her with the upmost care and respect. The famous saying goes, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” But that’s friends, not parents. Unlike with parents, we get to choose our friends. So, it’s much easier to unintentionally follow in the footsteps of a friend rather than a parent. I’m not doting on this because I have a bone to pick with home authority. I love my parents dearly. I’m just saying while they play a huge part in who we are, we’re not always forced to become like them. We have options, and they aren’t always blamed or responsible for how we turn out.
I adored chapters six, seven, and eight because then I could see a little bit of the disciple Peter in Wollstonecraft’s writings rather than Kant. She recognizes there is danger in a woman trying to please men too much because she may get wrapped up in acquiring materialistic traits rather than meaningful ones. She will soon care more about looking moral rather than actually being moral. 1 Peter 3:3-4 came to my mind as I realized this: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
The very second that a woman thinks her outward beauty is more important than her inward beauty is the very second that she loses beauty altogether, in my opinion. Our inward is what shines through our outward. Own it.
By the way, I commented on posts by Drew Hedden and Eliza Colbert.
Comments
When I would be getting ready to go somewhere in high school, my mom would always tell me that "if my heart is ugly, it doesn't matter how hard I try, my appearance will not measure up."
True Beaty is inner beauty. Great post and a great reminder