Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-97)

Key Text: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)

Classical Liberalism (late seventeenth century to late nineteenth century), Feminism

Human Nature

-enlightenment’s view of human nature should apply to women as well as men

-18th century England was illiberal to deny women equality and individual freedom

Society

-State and society implied women not rational and denied individual freedom and formal equality

-Women complicit in their subjugation desiring only marriage and motherhood

-Formal education should be made to as many women as possible

-Without education individuals could never realise their individual potential and the absurdity of illiberal principles

State

-Women limited rights especially after marriage

-Couldn’t vote which was violation of ‘government by consent’

-Limiting female individualism is limiting the nations stock of intelligence, wisdom and morality

-Republican government and formal equality

-Constitutional defence of individual rights

The economy

-Free market economy would be energised by the enterprise of liberated women