Mary Wollstonecraft wrote this letter because she wants to address the inequality between men and women in terms of which gender could do what and which can’t in the new Constitution made in France. The issues that she identifies are the lack of opportunities for women to obtain education, and having to act and appear a certain way without freedom in society. Wollstonecraft sees this issue as a problem because people like M. Talleyrand-Perigord, are stuck and living in this stereotype that men should have all the opportunities possible to gain education, being able to act any way they want, while women are restrained from these rights because it is not “women-like”, she wants to break this kind of stereotype. In this letter, it was mentioned that this new Constitution was created to develop patriotism in the country to make a change, but what Talleyrand said about the rights regarding men and women is opposite of what patriotism is. If there is no equal rights and freedom for women, then there really isn’t any difference before or after the French Revolution, or even the point of the new Constitution if they discriminate against women. When women are being valued like men in society, they not only benefit themselves, but can also help lead the country well alongside with men. In other words, treat both gender the same, otherwise if women are restricted on certain rights, so should men. After reading this letter I would identify Wollstonecraft’s discourse community as a group of people who only believe in men’s rights, or in general those who agree with Talleyrand’s claim in the National Education pamphlet that goes against women’s rights. Wollstonecraft is outside of this group because the group doesn’t acknowledge/accept women’s rights, so this go against her own belief. The group perceive rights as only for men, while Wollstonecraft perceive rights as equality, where both men and women rights are fair and well-balanced.
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Professor: Dr. Ruth G. Garcia
Email: RGarcia@citytech.cuny.edu
Office hours: Tuesday 10:30-12:30
This is a course in effective essay writing and basic research techniques, including use of the library. College-level readings are assigned as the basis for classroom discussion and for essay writing.
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Ursula C. Schwerin Library
New York City College of Technology, C.U.N.Y
300 Jay Street, Library Building - 4th Floor
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