Gender Equality Activist Mary Wollstonecraft

  • Under Cover

    Mary finds inspiration in the beginning of the French Revolution that leads her to writing "The Female Reader". She published this with a male name for protection.
    -This is important in influencing Mary's advocacy because she didn't want to continue to "hide" behind this pseudonym, but I am sure she felt like she had to since men were held on a higher pedestal at the time.

    Source: Study Guides Biography (Shmoop)
  • Fighting Back

    Mary gains attention toward her as a writer by creating a follow up response to Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France". This would be known as "A Vindication of the Rights of Men".
    -This was important for her advocacy journey because she was one of the first women to be vocal about the way she felt toward the one sided gender education. This was extremely inspiring for many women, and still is! Source: British Library
  • Published Work

    "A Vindication of the Rights of Women" was created by Mary, this would go on to be her most famous written work and would turn many heads, mostly male. For the most part, females were with her when it came to her views.
    -This helped strengthen Mary's advocacy for gender equality because it spread information and really put out the groundbreaking explanation of the way most women back then were feeling.
    Source: Study Guides Biography (Shmoop)
  • From War to Love

    Mary begins a relationship with someone she had a past "heated discussion" with, William Godwin, a political philosopher. The first path crossing of one another took place in 1791, this is when Mary and William would get in an argument where they both departed on bad terms.
    -This time stamp is an important one, because it shows that Mary had forgiveness for William, and I am sure he started to listen more to her gender philosophies.
    Source: Study Guides Biography (Shmoop)