Analysis Page

A Vindication of the Rights

by Mary Wollstonecraft

Section 1
Everyone is following along with the trend that women should not be educated.
She is upset about the lack of education of women today.
Woman are unhappy and considered WEAK by society
At this time women are noticeably unhappy.
Women are not given the chance to grow in society. / Section 3
She will give her opinion about the topic.
That this is wrong that just because men are stronger doesn’t mean that women cannot learn.
Women should not take this opinion form men that “we” are not smart. This will only keep us from not being able to grow.
Men could leave us.
Section 2
Women weren’t considered a part of society in the eyes of Men. (women—Creatures)
Some women are focusing on being good wives and mothers to spark love but not on demanding respect from men. / Section 4
There are masculine women but she can’t find them.
Two types
1)Hunting and shooting
2)Educated women
She would join into the first type of woman
Women to animals
As women grow we will become more like type 2 and more masculine

Vocabulary Page

Section 1
Obliged- to follow
Hitherto- modern
Deplore- to regret
Rendered- Cause or become
Wretched-Unhappy
Fastidious- attentive / Section 3
Inferiority- to be considered less
Superiority- to have power over someone or something
Preeminence- how things are
Alluring- attracted
Endeavor- attempt
Durable- long lasting
Section 2
Barren- lacking
Anxious- eager
Alluring- attract
Civilized- proper
Ambition- goal
Exact- demand / Section 4
Inferences-educated guess
Exclamations- protest
Ardor-strong
Cordially-strong feeling
Ennobles- give a title
Philosophic- based on a system of philosophy

Discussion Questions

1.  Women are presented as unhappy & weak. Women are using society, but not giving anything back so society is suffering. Women get less respect from men and if their man leaves them, they can’t get a job because they have no education. (When women aren’t educated they have no real role in society and are pretty much useless.)

2.  Men and women should be treated equally (even though there are a few things that men should/could do that women can’t) Equal education can help to achieve this.

3.  Wollstonecraft would have argued that not only would education make women better wives and mothers, but it would also add to people contributing to society. Wollstonecraft may disagree with Rousseau about the types of education women should receive. (He thinks they should learn how to be good mothers, and she thinks that an education will help women be better wives and mothers, but their education shouldn’t be limited to just that.)