Mary Wollstonecraft: Revolutionary Thinker

What was one of Mary Wollstonecraft's key beliefs regarding education?

Which of the following did Mary Wollstonecraft NOT advocate for?

What was the title of Mary Wollstonecraft's famous book published in 1792?

How did Mary Wollstonecraft view the status of women in her society?

What was criticized in the conservative press regarding Mary Wollstonecraft?

Mary Wollstonecraft's daughter, Mary, eventually became known for what literary work?

What societal structure did Mary Wollstonecraft challenge in her writings?

What was one of the consequences of Wollstonecraft's advocacy for women's rights?

Mary Wollstonecraft: A Revolutionary Thinker

Wollstonecraft, an 18th-century woman, championed women's rights in a highly restrictive society.
Advocated for co-education (boys and girls in the same schools) and informal, child-centered teaching methods, incorporating physical exercise.
Critiqued societal structures that restricted women's rights and opportunities, hindering their intellectual and professional development.
Believed women should be educated for a variety of professions: medicine (beyond nursing), midwifery, business, farming, shopkeeping.
Sought economic independence for women, enabling them to live and manage their affairs rationally, free from dependence on men.

Key Works and Beliefs

Authored A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), considered a foundational feminist text.
Emphasized justice over charity, advocating for equal rights.
Believed in the power of self-improvement and education for personal and societal advancement.
Rejected reliance on a supreme being, emphasizing self-directed living.
Advocated for independent thought and action among women, rather than subservience to men.

Personal Life and Legacy

Married William Godwin, a fellow freethinker.
Her daughter, Mary, married the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Died young at 38, but left a significant mark on feminist thought.
Faced criticism from the conservative press due to her outspoken views, but received acclaim and respect from progressive thinkers.
Supported figures like Thomas Paine, a prominent advocate for human rights and revolution, leading to further criticisms.

Explore the ideas and contributions of Mary Wollstonecraft, an 18th-century pioneer for women's rights. This quiz covers her advocacy for education, economic independence, and critiques of societal norms that limited women's potential. Test your knowledge on her key works and beliefs that laid the groundwork for feminist thought.