6.3.3 Reason: Women's Rationality and Independence (Mary Wollstonecraft)

Reason and Rationality

• Women as Rational Beings:

• This belief directly challenged the widespread 18th-century view that women were naturally suited only for domestic roles and lacked the intellectual ability to participate in public life or make decisions independently.
• Equality of Minds:
  • Wollstonecraft asserted that any perceived intellectual differences between men and women were not due to inherent inferiority but were the result of unequal access to education and opportunities. She contended that with the same education and freedom to develop their faculties, women could contribute equally to society.
  • Her advocacy for educational reform was grounded in the liberal belief in the power of reason. She argued that if women were given the same educational opportunities as men, they would become equally capable and autonomous individuals.

Independence and Autonomy

• Autonomous Individuals:

• She believed that true independence for women could only be achieved when they were recognized as rational beings, deserving of the same rights and responsibilities as men. This included not just access to education, but also the right to participate in public life, engage in intellectual pursuits, and contribute to society in meaningful ways.
• Critique of Traditional Roles:

• In advocating for women's education and broader societal roles, Wollstonecraft was promoting the liberal idea that all individuals, regardless of gender, should have the freedom to cultivate their reason and pursue their own paths in life.

Wollstonecraft's Legacy in Liberal Thought

• Foundational Feminist Liberalism:
  • Wollstonecraft's arguments laid the groundwork for the feminist strand of liberalism, which emphasizes the importance of gender equality and the extension of individual rights and freedoms to women. Her belief in the rationality and independence of women challenged the patriarchal structures of her time and set the stage for future feminist movements.
  • Her work remains a key text in discussions of liberalism and feminism, highlighting the need for a society that recognizes the equal rational capabilities of all its members.
• Impact on Liberal Philosophy:

• By arguing for the inclusion of women as rational agents within the liberal framework, Wollstonecraft helped to expand the scope of liberalism to include gender equality as a fundamental aspect of a just and fair society.

The state

• Wollstonecraft believed that both men and women are capable of rational thought, however this is ignored by the state who continues to reinforce male domination.
• The state needs to ensure that women are given the same rights as men, 'formal equality.'
• Monarchical states need to be replaces by republican states that can properly entrench women's rights.
• Until we all have formal equality, women cannot have freedom to achieve their potentials and therefore the state must intervene to make sure women have equal standing as men.