Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 19:4 (Autumn 2005)
Article: Reflections on Chapter 2 of Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Author: Leah Welch

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PP 19:4 (Autumn 2005) p. 9

Reflections on Chapter 2 of Mary Wollstonecraft’s
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

Leah Welch

LEAH WELCH graduated from Bethel University in the spring of 2005 with a degree in Biblical and Theological Studies. Currently, she works at a group home for people with disabilities and is an intern at Christians for Biblical Equality.

Arguably, Mary Wollstonecraft can be as relevant today as she was in 1792 when she wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Her critique of societal norms and the education of women and children was revolutionary when she wrote it, and it still has the capability to be influential today. Why is this the case? Is her work so rich that it can be interpreted across cultures and time, or has society not changed as much as it might seem? Certainly, Wollstonecraft’s writing is interpretively rich and able to speak to many people; however, there are some elements of our contemporary society that might hinder the progress of the feminist movement, of which Wollstonecraft is considered the foremother. I intend to investigate Wollstonecraft’s argument for why men and women are equal in rationality and consider why her criticisms of society might still be applicable today by reflecting on applications to our broader society and, more specifically, the evangelical church. I will also suggest that it is unfortunate that a critique such as Wollstonecraft’s still needs to be applied in contemporary society, but that, if we can understand it in today’s context (and by neglecting it we would be causing injustice and miseducation to go unchallenged), then we should indeed apply her proposals.

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman is seen by many as a suggestion for the renewal of female education; however, it should also be included in the larger picture of the quest for liberty. Many at the time did not want to give her ideas credibility because they believed that she must have had ulterior motives for trying to overturn the status quo for women. It was thought that no sensible woman would seek to deny her place in society and defy the expectations placed on her unless she had questionable morals.1 This same criticism has been made of the modern feminist movement, that women are not seeking equality with pure motives, but, rather, that they must have a hidden agenda motivated by anger and jealousy. Since the beginnings and up through the development and continuance of the movement, feminism has been harshly criticized and even dismissed by many for this reason even though its ideal objectives seek to be comprehensive and include everyone. Feminism promotes a system based on radical love and equality instead of patriarchy and domination and attempts to meet the best interest of w...

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