What Are The Implications Of A Vindication On The Rights Of Woman

“I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.” (Wollstonecraft) Throughout Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication on the Rights of Woman, Wollstonecraft discusses sources of inequality between men and women. She believes that education, the lack of women’s social diversity and a false definition of the word reason are some of the causes of inequality. So, in Wollstonecraft's view, public education that includes both the sexes, the combining of the home life and sociality as well as the definition of reason as virtue would act as remedies to the majority of situations that produce inequality. While Wollstonecraft’s proposals would act as solutions to a certain point, they will not be sufficient to completely remedy inequality …show more content…
Education would be the gateway to make this a reality. If women’s rational capacities and the development of women’s views on social and political rights were evolved, life would be much different. Also, if coeducation between girls and boys were a thing from an early age moving forward, the deep seated opinion that women only belong in the home or on the arm of a wealthy man would begin to change. “The man who can be contented to live with a pretty and useful companion who has no mind has lost in voluptuous gratifications a taste for more refined pleasures; he has never felt the calm and refreshing satisfaction. . . .of being loved by someone who could understand him.” (Wollstonecraft)
When a girl and a boy are treated as equal in a public setting, the view of how women should act in a societal situation will evolve from generation to generation until the idea that women did not have equal access to education will only be a memory. “And, perhaps, in the education of both sexes, the most difficult task is so to adjust instruction as not to narrow the understanding, whilst the heart is warmed by the generous juices of spring . . . nor to dry up the feelings by employing the mind in investigations remote from life.” …show more content…
She believes that reason is synonymous with the word virtue. Having a virtuous mindset, that is showing high moral standards, is just one more piece to solving the inequality puzzle. If women could separate themselves from engaging in activities such as going to salons and being unneededly concerned with their appearances, they would be able to engage with the world by being informed and performing civic duties while arguing what is right. Excising frivolity is needed for women to have the capacity to become virtuous and impactful citizens. “and this homage to women’s attractions has distorted their understanding to such an extent that almost all the civilized women of the present century are anxious only to inspire love, when they ought to have the nobler aim of getting respect for their abilities and virtues.”