The discussion is directed to all scholars and readers interested in Mary Wollstonecraft's thought, in particular, and in all questions regarding feminism, in general. The document attached to this discussion proposal is my own PDF-Version of the text which was published in the book "The Return of Ethics and Spirituality in Global Development", edited by Mahmoud Masaeli & Rico Sneller, Gompel&Svacina, Oud-Turnhout, Belgium / ’s Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, 2020. I refer to the printed version for the exact format of the chapter and for the exact number of pages. In my paper, I am going to present some of Mary Wollstonecraft's ideas on education, reason, independence, and theological reform. I am going to focus on Mary Wollstonecraft's strategy of unmasking every form of domination which lies behind the traditional organization of society, such as behind traditional methods of education, behind traditional theological ideas, and behind traditional forms of worship in her time. Her strategy of unmasking forms of domination paves the way for her revolutionary programme. Mary Wollstonecraft's programme of revolution consists in a profound reform of the system and of the contents of education for women. She aims at showing that all traditional forms of education only correspond to the intention of relegating women to an inferior level in comparison to the level assigned to men. It is education that condemns all women to a position of dependence, of inferiority, and of submission in society. As a result of the change in the system of education for women, women will regain their own dignity. This will be the first step towards changing society as a whole; every effective process of societal change must begin with education programmes. Reason, virtue, and knowledge are, in Mary Wollstonecraft's view, the principles that should direct the life of individuals and inspire the laws of society; every aspect of the individual and of social life should respect the standards dictated by reason.
Dear Dr. Gianluigi Segalerba
Thank you for the interesting topic for discussion.
A passionate advocate of educational and social equality for women, Mary Wollstonecraft outlined her beliefs in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), considered a classic of feminism. Her book is one of the trailblazing works of feminism. She believed that through political change as a radical reform of national educational systems which, she concluded, would benefit all society.
Wollstonecraft wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman during a time when reason was considered the greatest power a human could have. But people believed that reason was a gift from God, and all arguments for social change had to, in one way or another, say that God was somehow in favor of the change. This explains all kinds of references to religion in Wollstonecraft's argument for women's rights.
Please see:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/cambridge-companion-to-mary-wollstonecraft/religious-foundations-of-mary-wollstonecrafts-feminism/EA74A6288A8BF8FAC007AB918945F859
The religious foundations of Mary Wollstonecraft's feminism by Barbara Taylor, Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 May 2006.
Morgan, S. M. (2007). Aspects of Mary Wollstonecraft’s Religious Thought (Thesis, Master of Arts (MA)). The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/2300
Sarah Hutton, Radicalism, religion and Mary Wollstonecraft
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17496977.2020.1857323?journalCode=rihr20
Thank you for starting a very interesting discussion.
Although I am not an expert on Mary Wallstonecraft, I know some information about her. Her father made sure she got a good education. He hired some tutors for her, and she had access to his sizeable yet modest library. In essence, she was schooled at home. This was is in the days, when most young ladies received no education at all. As Mary was brought up to think freely, she developed a healthy amount of confidence to attempt writing manuscripts and books.
Thank you!
Dear Professor Ahmed T. Hussein ,
I thank you very much for your message and your information, which I am reading now with great attention.
Yours sincerely,
Gianluigi Segalerba
Dear Professor Scott Mavers ,
I thank you very much for your message and your interesting observations.
Yours sincerely,
Gianluigi Segalerba
Very interesting theme with an author who has aroused the interest of scholars
Dear Professor Alicia Susana Cuevas ,
I thank you very much for your message and your observation.
Yours sincerely,
Gianluigi Segalerba
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