Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797), best known for A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, was thus a foremother of feminism. She was also a war reporter, a pedagogue, a spiritual quester, a radical republican, a single mother, a passionate & taboo-breaking lover.
Her story is ripe for the telling. This blog gathers anecdotes, freelance research, resources, and news of current projects: your one-stop Mary Wollstonecraft shop!
On 23 February 1792, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman was published. What does the work of Mary Wollstonecraft mean to you? What is her legacy in our time?
Really enjoying your posts Roberta. The legacy for me is in how she lived: it's not just the writing, I consider that only part of her work. It's the sheer force of the way she kept going and going. The woman was a dynamo. I try to channel a fraction of her energy into my life and thinking about her never fails me! I guess it can't be the same for everyone but that's what she means for me..
There's an interesting split between the academics who concentrate on her words, and those who look at her life. As they both point out, thinkers such as Adam Smith do not suffer from having their works interpreted with constant reference to their domestic decisions: Mr Invisible Hand lived with his mother for much of his life.
Really enjoying your posts Roberta.
ReplyDeleteThe legacy for me is in how she lived: it's not just the writing, I consider that only part of her work. It's the sheer force of the way she kept going and going. The woman was a dynamo. I try to channel a fraction of her energy into my life and thinking about her never fails me! I guess it can't be the same for everyone but that's what she means for me..
There's an interesting split between the academics who concentrate on her words, and those who look at her life. As they both point out, thinkers such as Adam Smith do not suffer from having their works interpreted with constant reference to their domestic decisions: Mr Invisible Hand lived with his mother for much of his life.
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