A Vindication of the Rights of Woman Education

In A Vindication of the Rights of Woman the question of women's rights centers on education. There is nothing Wollstonecraft wants more than for women to have access to the same kind of education as men. Wollstonecraft was an extremely educated woman, and she felt that if all women had the opportunities she did, more of them would turn into great and productive members of society.

In her mind, all of women's worst qualities come from the fact that they lack proper education and are taught only to care about superficial things. If women had proper training in math, philosophy, art, and science, Wollstonecraft is confident that they could become every bit as good as men.

Questions About Education

1. Do you agree with Wollstonecraft's opinion that an equal education can eradicate the distinctions between the sexes? Why or why not?
2. Why does Wollstonecraft think that reason is the most important power in a human being?
3. How can education make a person morally better? What does Wollstonecraft say on this issue?
4. What good could it possible do for men to deny women a good education? What explanation does Wollstonecraft come up with?

Chew on This

In Vindication, Wollstonecraft shows us that the only way for a human being to improve her or himself is through education.

Vindication shows us that education can be both a blessing and a curse, because with education comes responsibility.