Women Studies

Mary Wollstonecraft made huge contributions to the life and rights of women. She is considered among the prominent feminist of her time. Through his article “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” the writer provides various views on the rights of women. She further provides various criticisms directed on women of her time. One of the argument by the writer focuses on neglect of education by women (Volkova 894). She argues that despite the fact that women are responsible for domestic functions, they have right to education. She states that education provides a stable marriage which in turn provides formidable relationship.

The other criticism on women by Wollstonecraft is that women do not engage in reasoning and sensing. She argues that women have a sense of pleasure that they neglect their duty. She argues that beauty and fashion have a way of destructing women from reasoning. This influence has a way of reducing their participation in marriage as equal partners. It further reduces their functions as educators of children. She was a defender for individual liberty. The writer was of the opinion that men and women should be equal. She provides criticism to another writer Rousseau (Volkova 901). According to this writer women were unable to reason, for this fact men were only able to reason.

In order to improve the condition of women Wollstonecraft argues that the state needs to provide educational opportunities that promote women agenda. She further argues that parenting is an important aspect in promoting women agenda. Parenting has an influence of improving social morals through children which in turn runs through the society. The other way of improving women condition is through founding sound moral standards by institutions. Women should also exercise equal rights in the public sphere. This means that marriages need to be structured to include the interests of women. There is also a call to change in the society in respect to ideological standards to promote women agenda (Volkova 905).

There is very little information about the history of Rosalie Ducrollay Jullien. Her personal life represents that of individuals on the middle class at the time. Her history relies on the script of her efforts in the revolutionary through interaction with people in powerful positions. The history of the character relies on the thousands of letters she personally wrote during the period of the struggle (Parker 39). She gained her education through her husband and became eloquent. Her letters were grammatically correct and well crafted revealing she was an educated woman. Her husband was Mac-Antoine a well educated individual. He enjoyed a lustrous political career during the period. They were parents of two boys and lived in the country side before relocating to the city.

When one analyses the awakening of feminism in France it follows that of the United States. Julien’s approach follows that of other feminists’ revolutionaries. Her approach begins with the process of awakening where women become aware of their rights. The next step is the formation of consciousness on individuals. The next step relates to passivity, conformity and creation of hope. Through the revolution julien’s view according to parker changed. She became a proponent of equality (Parker 41). She felt that men and women had to be in the same level. She did demonstrate this by undertaking duties that were otherwise not meant for women. However in her approach Julien succumbed to the pressure of men. If it were Wollstonecraft, she would not have succumbed. Wollstonecraft would have criticized Julien for her role in promoting feminism for lack of courage.

Works Cited

Lindsay A.H. Parker, “Family and Feminism in the French Revolution: The Case of Rosalie Ducrollay Jullien,” Journal of Women’s History 24, no. 3 (2012): 36-61.

Volkova, Inna. ““I Have Looked Steadily Around Me”: The Power Of Examples In Mary Wollstonecraft’S A Vindication Of The Rights Of Woman.” Women’s Studies 43.7 (2014): 892-910. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 Dec. 2016.