Feminist & Gender Studies - Mary Wollstonecraft and Rationality

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering Descartes' concept of rationality, the Cartesian subject, Mary Wollstonecraft's life and work, particularly 'The Vindication of the Rights of Woman', and its subsequent critiques.

Cogito Ergo Sum

A Latin phrase by Descartes meaning "I think, therefore I am," emphasizing that the essence of being is rational thought.

The Cartesian Subject

A philosophical concept by Descartes, contingent on the mind/body split and defined by rationality, often critiqued for its problematic gendered and racial foundations.

Mary Wollstonecraft

A British writer, philosopher, and feminist (1759-1797) known for her critiques of gendered perspectives, particularly Rousseau's, and her advocacy for women's rights.

Rousseau's 'Man is born free yet everywhere he is in chains'

A statement by Rousseau criticized by Wollstonecraft for its gendered language, implying it only applied to certain people (men) and not women.

The Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)

Mary Wollstonecraft's seminal work arguing that women are not naturally inferior to men and deserve the same fundamental rights, advocating for public education and women's societal participation.

Wollstonecraft's argument on women's rationality

The belief that women are inherently rational like men but are deemed irrational because they have been denied the chance to develop their intellectual capacities.

Criticisms of 'The Vindication of the Rights of Woman'

Feminist critiques include its reification of the mind-body split, replacement of one hierarchy with another, and lack of intersectionality in addressing diverse experiences of womanhood.