Micro-Activity #6: Responding to Wollstonecraft

Mary Wollstonecraft wrote “Dedicatory Letter” to A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in response to the educational and political men of the 18^th century who believed that women should not receive a rational education. She wants the recipient of the letter to have the same initial rights as men. Her aim is to clarify opposing views of women’s rights. Wollstonecraft is part of the feminist discourse community; she is a part of this DC based on her stance and point of view in her letter.

Quote 1: “Fighting for the rights of women, my main argument is built on this simple principle: If woman isn’t fitted by education to become man’s companion, she will stop the progress of knowledge, because truth must be common to all; if it isn’t it won’t be able to influence how people in general behave.”

Writing Strategy Wollstonecraft is using: Argumentative Strategy

Explain why you find this useful, persuasive, or effective in some other way:

• I find this quote and Wollstonecraft’s strategy useful because it catches the reader’s attention, at least it caught mine. She states her main point before starting her arguments in detail. This strategy illustrates a clear understanding of the conventional belief of women in society is intolerable.

Quote 2:

“The whole system of British politics—calling it a ‘system’ is mere politeness—consists in multiplying dependents and contriving taxes that grind the poor to pamper the rich…”

Writing Strategy Wollstonecraft is using: Logos “the persuasion of using logical facts and evidence”

Explain why you find this useful, persuasive, or effective in some other way:

• I found this quote and strategy effective because the facts Mary used helps gain the attention of the more educated and sophisticated audience. Wollstonecraft used this strategy to have her voice heard in a time where women were used as basic objects for men.