A Vindication of the Rights of Women

Book: A Vindication for the Rights of Women
Author:  Mary Wollstonecraft 
Publication: 1792

 This ground-breaking book is often considered the first book on feminism. Written at the end of the 18th century, A Vindication for the Rights of Women deals primarily with the rights of women to be educated so that they can participate in the lives of their children and family in the best way possible. She says, “...men endeavor to sink us still lower, merely to render us alluring objects for a moment; and women, intoxicated by the adoration which men, under the influence of their senses, pay them, do not seek to obtain a durable interest in their hearts, or to become the friends of the fellow creatures who find amusement in their society.” 

 While there are definite feminist leanings in Wollstonecraft's work, it has also been criticized for it's particular type of feminism: she never equates men and women, for example. Wollstonecraft also speaks often about the need for women to not be ruled by their emotions, a statement that makes many modern feminists uncomfortable. 

 However, as an example of a Book as Artifact, Wollstonecraft's book stands the test of time as a definite look into the lives of women in 18th century Britain. She argues passionately for her stance, and she encapsulates a particular point in history. 

 Read the book thanks to Project Gutenberg

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