With the advent of women’s rights in America, as well as the increasingly common discussions of gender identity and sexuality, it’s important to remember the many historical figures that have brought these topics to light. From writers to philosophers to politicians alike, there are a lot of people who helped remind their audience time and time again about the importance of both men and women. One of these figures was Mary Wollstonecraft.

Mary Wollstonecraft, the mother of the famed author Mary Shelley, was a women’s rights advocate and writer. She was one of the early founders of feminism and pushed for equal education for both men and women. Her unconventional lifestyle garnered the attention of many contemporary and modern-day scholars. Writers such as Jane Austen kept referencing Wollstonecraft’s works. Others such as Emma Goldman and Virginia Woolf have even embraced her writings. 

Wollstonecraft’s works have been featured in many feminist circles. One of Wollstonecraft’s most prominent works was Thoughts on the Education of Daughters. In this piece, she talks about the education of young women, and how important it was to incorporate honesty and other moral values into their curriculum, rather than just academics itself. She brings this up again in another work, Vindications of the Rights of Men, where she argues how better-educated women would bring about positive changes to society. She supported the basic ideas of femininity and showed beauty as a source of strength, rather than weakness. She goes on further to say that the reason why many women during the modern age were so concerned about frivolous pursuits was that men refused to allow women to be educated. One of her novels, The Wrongs of Woman, had even depicted a young woman forcibly confined to an asylum by her husband, and that despite her position, the woman still finds comfort in relationships outside her marriage. Ironically enough, the novel was considered radical, even by Wollstonecraft’s own standards. 

Whether or not she was a modern feminist was debated by many scholars. She didn’t obviously state men and women are equal, and when she did, it was only through religious terms. She also seemed to believe that men have a greater disposition for morality than women do. In one of her writings, she cements this idea by saying she had no desire to overthrow current society, that she only wished to improve upon ideals that she believed were moral at the time. Even though she had been referenced many times over by contemporary feminists, Wollstonecraft may not have agreed with the modern feminist movement or their ideals.

Even so, Wollstonecraft is still regarded as one of the hallmarks of what would become women's rights. Her works have inspired women to fight for their own rights, regardless of their backgrounds. To this day, her work continues to be venerated. She was a remarkable woman, a trailblazer even when she didn’t mean to be, and has inspired many women to continue fighting for what’s right.