Wollstonecraft's Rights of Woman: Conformity vs. Rebellion

Overview

The thesis examines Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) and its reflection of the tension between conformity and rebellion
The author's life experiences are an inherent component of the work
It discusses Mary Wollstonecraft's personal struggles as a woman in a patriarchal society
These struggles influenced her perspective and motivated her to address her concerns for "fellow creatures"
The treatise challenged conventional thinking while aiming to appeal to her contemporary audience
An additional focus is the dichotomy between the public and private spheres experienced by most women during Wollstonecraft's time
Mary Wollstonecraft suggests this dichotomy underlies the wastefulness of women as a key societal resource
Throughout her life and writing, Wollstonecraft grappled with traditional values and those she developed through her circumstances
This struggle cultivated a tension reflected in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
The study explores Wollstonecraft's influence on female figures, notably Anna Letitia Barbauld
Although Barbauld had differing opinions on women's roles and education, she was inspired by Wollstonecraft's fervent advocacy
The conclusion emphasizes that Wollstonecraft addressed both her writing career and the broader implications for women in her time
She used her words to initiate discussions on women's place in society

Preface

The passion in Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman stemmed from her firsthand experiences of inequality in a patriarchal society
Wollstonecraft's early jobs exemplified the conformity expected of her as a woman
Her experiences with conformity fueled the passion behind her writing
She lived her life outside the realm of conformity in her struggle to survive within the patriarchal society
She lived a revolutionary life or "at the very least flirted with rebellion," and blurred the lines between her public and private life
Wollstonecraft found that a life of conformity resulted in oppression, yet even in rebellion, she could not achieve complete freedom
Most respectable women deemed the most oppressed
She left a mark with her writing, especially with A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, although she did not set out to change the world
It explores statements within the piece that suggest a tension between conformity and rebellion
Mary Wollstonecraft was outspoken in arguing for women's rights and national education
She was mindful of her position as a woman in a patriarchal society
She conformed in her expression of beliefs to ensure her thoughts were heard
She conceded that men were stronger, but women should "endeavor to acquire strength, both of mind and body“
The phrases considered to be refinement are nearly synonymous with weakness

Research

Scholarly articles and books substantiate the tension between conformity and rebellion and the influence on Wollstonecraft and Vindication
Vivien Jones showed that Wollstonecraft's view on John Gregory's Legacy to his Daughters changed between writing The Female Reader (1789) and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)
Jones indicates that Wollstonecraft relied on instructional genres throughout her life
She did so to claim that she disapproved of John Gregory's “celebrated Legacy"

Introduction

Wollstonecraft's motivation for writing A Vindication of the Rights of Woman was as a response to a state-supported education system
Wollstonecraft believed the system would keep women in “slavish dependence" and ignorant
The author discusses Wollstonecraft's concern about the role of women in society as an important but wasted resource
The thesis reveals contradictions in Wollstonecraft’s ideas, which are presented in traditional terms
She exposed the tension between conformity and rebellion
Wollstonecraft states in Vindication that she would like to see women exercise greater involvement in their lives and in society
She states that she does not mean to insinuate that they be taken out of their families
“Conformity” refers to steps Mary Wollstonecraft took to remain aligned as a woman according to her society
“Rebellion” refers to those actions taken outside the traditional role of women as defined by her society

Role of Public and Private

Focus on the contrast between Mary Wollstonecraft's public and private spheres and their role in her life, plus the lives of women of her time
The chapter highlights the contradictions between these spheres
It highlights the problem of being female, as Mary Wollstonecraft saw it, when women were not "wholly accepted" in the public sphere
The thesis discusses Wollstonecraft's belief that women's inability to effectively participate in public and private spheres was from their lack of education
Wollstonecraft felt equal footing was unobtainable to women
She acknowledged rules women must live by while giving her ideas for solutions to problems women faced
The second chapter overlaps with the first but provides a more detailed discussion of public and private spheres
Focuses on the importance of Jurgen Habermas' view of theses concepts but presents Anne Mellor's assertion that Habermas' account of the public sphere was inaccurate
There are also conflicting explanations add further tension
The thesis introduces Sylvana Tomaselli's idea from "The Most Public Sphere of Them All: The Family"
Mary Wollstonecraft believed family to be a "unit of the social and moral reproduction of society” (239) and was the heart of reforms
Conformity and rebellion meet public and private spheres

Life of Wollstonecraft

This chapter examines a closer look at Wollstonecraft's life and its influence on A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Motivations explained are behind the revolutionary ideas set forth by Mary Wollstonecraft's work
Discusses Wollstonecraft's childhood and its foundation for tension she would feel between her views
The book lays the groundwork for history
Wollstonecraft notes, "A great proportion of the misery that wanders, in hideous forms, around the world, is allowed to rise from the negligence of parents...” (293)
Mary had a relationship with Joseph Johnson and the “literary elite"
Chris Jones notes that “What Mary Wollstonecraft gained from her radical friends was not just a set of doctrines but a way of life
Highlights experiences of Mary Wollstonecraft's life that shaped her perspective, gave her voice

Wollstonecraft and Barbauld

Examines the influence of Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman on other authors, specifically Anna Letitia Barbauld
There's a parallel between Anna Letitia Barbauld's place as a female within a patriarchal society, her career, compared with Wollstonecraft's own experiences
Wollstonecraft's and Barbauld's backgrounds were different, both would take on roles that conformed to society's expectations
They would bloom within her rebellious roles as writers and social commentators
Both were admired and then severely criticized by peers
The thesis discusses the “heated” exchange of words between Anna Letitia Barbauld and Mary Wollstonecraft, underscoring their approaches to social injustices
These criticisms demonstrate the tension between conformity and rebellion among women writers and reflection of these struggles within these works

Conclusion

The conclusion brings together all arguments that, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman reflects a naturally occurring tension between conformity and rebellion
Mary Wollstonecraft's primary goal was to encourage society to recognize women as a valuable resource
It became apparent that there was a tension between conformity and rebellion that played a role in the writing of the text in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Acknowledge the difficulties and it's understanding is crucial
Argued women remained in ignorance due to a state-supported system and they should be independent of men
Wollstonecraft sought end to women's ignorance as they are their resource to offer
Her ideas have influenced women, literary works, feminist thought, political discourse, and educational theory