Mary Wollstonecraft's Effects on Feminism

Wollstonecraft is often considered to be one of the women who inspired the women’s' movement for equal rights, also referred to as the women's suffrage. Especially during the French Revolution, period in which she particularly noticed the control that a man-ruled government had over women. In her works, she would attack those who disagreed with the equality of the sexes, such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau. She often insisted in her works on her importance of education, especially in the fields of botany, history, ethics, reading, writing, and any form of exercise that could help stimulate thoughts and reason. Wollstonecraft also believed that the obstacles for women are rooted deep into a society, such as in its constitution, and did not trust for any of the government-run schools to be able to equally educate both men and women.

Her most famous work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman was translated into French and German, and sold out within a year after it was published. She personally visited France during the revolution, and supported those who wished for a constitutional monarchy with equal rights between the sexes.

In modern day society, Mary Wollstonecraft is known as the exemplar feminist, who educated herself, urged everyone to fulfill their potential, took responsibility for her actions, and spoke out for those who did not have a voice, repeatedly demanding for justice. Unlike what many people say, she did not hate men, and wanted all relationships to be based on respect, regardless of the appearance of the person.