Micro-Activity #7: Pick a Model &Organize Your Ideas

I chose Mary Wollstonecraft’s letter “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects”. Wollstonecraft lived in a time of repression and reform. My audience are close-minded, sexist men that do not believe in the rights of women. My audience may find my arguments on this topic as “nonsense” because they were raised to be misogynistic men that find it hard to believe that yes a woman can work and have equal pay as a man, that yes a woman can receive an education, that yes a women can have a say in political topics and votes etc.  I chose this letter because she strongly believed in the rights of women, her stand against the injustices were not only of women but also of men. I found it compelling how she addresses the problems of social class, status of women, lack of education for women and their role of reason. Mary’s main argument was based on the fact that women were not making their own choices and did not act on their own behalf rather every decision was made for them. Wollstonecraft states “who made man the exclusive judge, if woman partake with him the gift of reason?” Moreover, Wollstonecraft’s passion and way of persuasion is fascinating, really showing her concern for human rights. Her enthusiasm when she speaks about the lack of voice women had specifically when women were not given the same opportunities in life as men were. The topic of how women should be treated in society and should have equal right as men is vital. Women should be receiving the same level of education that men do and should not have to be “housewives” or their job should be only cooking, cleaning, and raising kids. Women should be idolized and greatly respected. Excluding women without hearing them out or from sharing the natural rights of mankind is inhumane.