A Vindication of the Rights of Woman - Softcover

Wollstonecraft, Mary

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1500486175 ISBN 13: 9781500486174

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014

Synopsis

'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman' created a scandal in its day, largely, perhaps, because of the unconventional lifestyle of its creator. Today, it is considered the first great manifesto of women's rights, arguing passionately for the education of women. 'Vindication, ' written by the 18th-century British feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, is one of the earliest works of feminist philosophy. In this passionate reaction to Rousseau's pedagogical work 'Emile' (1762) Wollstonecraft powerfully defends woman's ability to reason, given appropriate education. Her radical prescription was for girls to be educated alongside boys and to the same standard. This is a foundational work of feminist political thought. In it, Wollstonecraft responds to those educational and political theorists of the 18th century who did not believe women should have an education. She argues that women ought to have an education commensurate with their position in society, claiming that women are essential to the nation because they educate its children and because they could be "companions" to their husbands, rather than mere wives. Instead of viewing women as ornaments to society or property to be traded in marriage, Wollstonecraft maintains that they are human beings deserving of the same fundamental rights as men. Wollstonecraft was prompted to write the Rights of Woman after reading Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord's 1791 report to the French National Assembly, which stated that women should only receive a domestic education; she used her commentary on this specific event to launch a broad attack against sexual double standards and to indict men for encouraging women to indulge in excessive emotion. Wollstonecraft wrote the Rights of Woman hurriedly to respond directly to ongoing events; she intended to write a more thoughtful second volume but died before completing it. While Wollstonecraft does call for equality between the sexes in particular areas of life, such as morality, she d

About this title

Review:

"Mary Wollstonecraft's words ring as true today - and are as little heeded by government - as when she wrote them, 200 years ago, in her A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" (Guardian)

"The first pebble in the later avalanche of the women's rights movement" (Melvyn Bragg Guardian)

"A book that was bold in its time and is now considered the notable forerunner of the women's movement" (New York Times) --new york times

"The first great piece of feminist writing" (Independent) "Changed the world for generations of women to come" --(Sunday Times)

Fiona Shaw's narration brings out the meaning of prose that many listeners may find a bit difficult to parse, making this classic work more accessible to a general audience. Described as an early feminist, Wollstonecraft was both a product of, and ahead of, her time. Her primary thesis which was far from the prevailing view of the nineteenth century was that women should have equal opportunity to be educated consistent with their class in order for them to be able to fulfil their duties as mothers and wives. Shaw adopts a tone of righteous indignation as Wollstonecraft attacks the views of Rousseau, who felt that educating women was wasteful, and others. The contrast between their arguments is enhanced by the dual presentation of Shaw and Jonathan Keeble in a point/counterpoint discussion. --- J.E.M., AudioFile

Book Description:

A key work of proto-feminism, Mary Wollstonecraft's readable and impassioned argument is as relevant today as it was 200 years ago.

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1500486175
• ISBN 13: 9781500486174
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 184