Mary Wollstonecraft

https://sites.google.com/a/xtec.cat/teresa-naves/people/writers/mary-wollstonecraft

Today in Mighty Girl history, British writer and philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft, one of the first pioneers for women's rights, was born in 1759. Due to her groundbreaking work, "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman," Wollstonecraft is considered one of the founding feminist philosophers. In her treatise, Wollstonecraft argues that women should have access to education and that women are not naturally inferior to men but only appear to be because they lack the same education and opportunities afforded to men. As she famously asserted, "Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience."

Wollstonecraft further asserted that as humans, women were deserving of the same basic rights as men; a radical notion in 18th century. She intended to expand upon her writing on women's rights but died at the age of 38 due to childbirth-related complications before having the opportunity to do so. Though her life was cut tragically short, Wollstonecraft left behind an important legacy through her contributions to early feminist philosophy and in her daughter, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, who went on to become the celebrated author of the novel "Frankenstein."

For an excellent book for adult readers about Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter, "Frankenstein" author Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, we highly recommend "Romantic Outlaw," at https://amzn.to/2vTdR4q

To learn more about Wollstonecraft's famous work, "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman," visit http://amzn.to/1J26rYk

To introduce children and teens to more women's rights pioneers, visit our "Women's History" section at https://amgrl.co/2DUnrm9

For more stories about pioneering women writers, visit our “Writers & Poets Biographies” section at http://amgrl.co/2iGIbbR

Included in this selection is a haunting illustrated biography in verse about Wollstonecraft's daughter, "Mary's Monster: Love, Madness, and How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein" for ages 14 and up at https://www.amightygirl.com/mary-s-monster