Mary Wollstonecraft was an enlightenment-era writer and philosopher, whose thinking, like the thinking of many enlightenment-era philosophers, was heavily predicated upon the celebration of human reason. For Wollstonecraft, education served to foster proper reasoning, and in this, education served as a critical component in each person's development as a human being and a member of society.
With that in mind, Wollstonecraft was deeply critical about the ways in which society showed disinterest in supporting the intellectual development of women. She held that, so long as this was the case, women were left unable to meet their full potential as human beings, and she argued that both men and women, and all of society, paid a price. Without meaningful education, women were left ill fit to contribute to society, and this applied both on a large scale (i.e. as citizens of the body politic) as well as on a smaller, more domestic scale of human interaction (i.e. as mothers and wives).
Further Reading
Early in her adulthood, Mary Wollstonecraft established a short-lived school for girls, however, it was her passionate beliefs about the rights and equality of women that formed her ideas on education. After her school failed, she wrote “Thoughts on the Education of Daughters” in order to establish herself as a writer. Later, in 1792, she wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, which expressed her views on educated woman in society.
As her life progressed, she became more vocal with her feminist belief that girls should be educated so they would value themselves thus they would become better wives and mothers. She felt that children reared by educated, interested parents would mature into more productive, respectful individuals. This was opposite of the beliefs of her contemporaries who believed that women should be dull, submissive, irrational creatures without the full benefit of formal education. Mary Wollstonecraft believed in the rationality of women, and that education was key for them to understand their worth in life.
Mary believed in co-education that included physical activity. Lessons should be presented using discourse instead of lecture and rote memorization. She felt that girls educated with peers of both genders would be better thinkers and conversationalists. They would have self-respect and make better partners to their husbands, which would improve the condition of the family, and of society as a whole.
Mary Wollstonecraft believed in the education of girls and young women. She lived and wrote in the 1700s, which was a time when the education of girls was limited. Typically, girls who were fortunate enough to receive an education in the 18th century were taught the arts of dancing, serving tea, drawing, curtsying, and basic reading skills. Mary Wollstonecraft believed in a thorough education for girls to aid them in their roles of eventual wives and mothers.
She did not think women should marry too young. Instead, she thought it would be better for them to mature before marrying. She thought that it was important for middle class girls to learn morals and intellectualism. They should learn reasoning and critical thinking skills, as well. She believed that young women should be taught self-discipline skills to aid them when they are married adults.
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