Let me just begin by saying I LOVE an author that doesn't try to destroy a reader's brain. Sure, I love a good brain teaser, but I also like to fully understand and comprehend what I am reading. Mary Wollstonecraft gave me just that. I was able to understand and comprehend what she wanted me to understand and comprehend. I love how blunt and outgoing she is. She is combating the stereotypical gender norms of her society. Wollstonecraft is one of the first documented feminists that we know about, and she has definitely earned her place in history.
Now, let's go on to the good stuff.
This is not the first time I have read some of the material from this book. Every time I read some of the material, one phrase always stands out to me: "Masculine Women." So, what does this mean? Terms like masculine and feminine do not always refer to the male and female gender. I see it similar to the masculine and feminine el and la in the Spanish language. They are simply adding qualities that align with stereotypical gender roles. I see the masculine term as strong, out-spoken, and things of that nature. I see the feminine term as soft, quiet, and other things of that nature. When Wollstonecraft describes some women as masculine, she is not referring to them as physically strong or having masculine features. She is referring to the mind and ability of women. Men in this time were more educated, more out-spoken, and supposedly thought more. Women of this time probably did not think for themselves, were not as educated, and were not as out-spoken. They didn't have the same rights as men. To me, the term "masculine women" refers to women who have the courage and ability to think for themselves and be more out-spoken. And Ms. Wollstonecraft is an example of one of those masculine women, at least from what I have read so far.
What do you guys think?
Sydney Snow
I commented on Ezra's and Kayla's posts.
I commented on Ezra's and Kayla's posts.
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