a progressive history of women in philosophy
by morgan morton
Women have always worked for more equality. Whether it be in the workforce, in education, or just in society as a whole. But it is not as easy as it may seem when you are raised to believe your stereotype. When you are taught that being pretty is the highest quality you can have, why would you work hard for an education? When people start teaching equality and giving women equal opportunities, then women will start receiving the respect we deserve and respecting ourselves as we should. Mary Wollstonecraft published the first feminist philosophical work in 1792. A Vindication of the Rights of Women is all about the feminist belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. Contrary to popular belief, feminism is not a scary cult of women protesting and patronizing menthe very idea of that would sicken Mary Wollstonecraft. In fact, she even wrote a book titled A Vindication of the Rights of Men. The general theme to Mary’s writing was to explain that men and women are totally equally beings and should be treated in this manner. She threw major shade at close-minded thinkers who believed that men and women were not even the same animal. A major belief she held and argued for was the idea that boys and girls should have free and equal education available to them. Sound familiar? Maybe because Mary Wollstonecraft laid the major foundation of what we now refer to as public school.
So why should you care? If you are a woman or know a woman, this applies to you. Wollstonecraft states that motherhood and raising children would be better with a fair education. That way, the mother could continue to support her family if the husband were to disappear or die unplanned. On the topic of motherhood, Wollstonecraft believes that this should not be the only option a woman has as a career. She was all for women getting into science, philosophy, and politics. However, unfortunately the issues addressed in A Vindication of the Rights of Women still have not been solved. Women and girls all around the world are still shot, abused, or denied the right to be able to attend school. Even in the modern field of philosophy women are not treated fairly or appropriately. Women working for their degrees in philosophy have spoken out about how they have been treated and the inappropriate things men get away with saying to them. After working so hard to finally receive an education, shouldn’t women feel comfortable in an environment of learning with “professionals”? Women in this field of study and work are few and far between, so why are they being discriminated against, sexually harassed, verbally abused, and underestimated? Women have come this far and I believe with the continued strength and determination first brought around by Mary Wollstonecraft, they will be able to be a complete equality in every aspect of society.
So why should you care? If you are a woman or know a woman, this applies to you. Wollstonecraft states that motherhood and raising children would be better with a fair education. That way, the mother could continue to support her family if the husband were to disappear or die unplanned. On the topic of motherhood, Wollstonecraft believes that this should not be the only option a woman has as a career. She was all for women getting into science, philosophy, and politics. However, unfortunately the issues addressed in A Vindication of the Rights of Women still have not been solved. Women and girls all around the world are still shot, abused, or denied the right to be able to attend school. Even in the modern field of philosophy women are not treated fairly or appropriately. Women working for their degrees in philosophy have spoken out about how they have been treated and the inappropriate things men get away with saying to them. After working so hard to finally receive an education, shouldn’t women feel comfortable in an environment of learning with “professionals”? Women in this field of study and work are few and far between, so why are they being discriminated against, sexually harassed, verbally abused, and underestimated? Women have come this far and I believe with the continued strength and determination first brought around by Mary Wollstonecraft, they will be able to be a complete equality in every aspect of society.