1792

                       VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN

                             by Mary Wollstonecraft
DEDICATION

                           To

                  M. Talleyrand-Perigord,

                   Late Bishop Of Autun.

  Sir,

  Having read with great pleasure a pamphlet which you have lately
published, I dedicate this volume to you; to induce you to reconsider
the subject, and maturely weigh what I have advanced respecting the
rights of woman and national education: and I call with the firm tone
of humanity; for my arguments, Sir, are dictated by a disinterested
spirit- I plead for my sex- not for myself. Independence I have long
considered as the grand blessing of life, the basis of every virtue-
and independence I will ever secure by contracting my wants, though
I were to live on a barren heath.

  It is then an affection for the whole human race that makes my pen
dart rapidly along to support what I believe to be the cause of
virtue: and the same motive leads me earnestly to wish to see woman
placed in a station in which she would advance, instead of retarding,
the progress of those glorious principles that give a substance to
morality. My opinion, indeed, respecting the rights and duties of
woman, seems to flow so naturally from these simple principles, that
I think it scarcely possible, but that some of the enlarged minds who
formed your admirable constitution, will coincide with me.

  In France there is undoubtedly a more general diffusion of knowledge
than in any part of the European world, and I attribute it, in a great
measure, to the social intercourse which has long subsisted between
the sexes. It is true, I utter my sentiments with freedom, that in
France the very essence of sensuality has been extracted to regale the
voluptuary, and a kind of sentimental lust has prevailed, which,
together with the system of duplicity that the whole tenour of their
political and civil government taught, have given a sinister sort of
sagacity to the French character, properly termed finesse; from
which naturally flow a polish of manners that injures the substance,
by hunting sincerity out of society.- And, modesty, the fairest garb
of virtue! has been more grossly insulted in France than even in
England, till their women have treated as prudish that attention to
decency, which brutes instinctively observe.

  Manners and morals are so nearly allied that they have often been
confounded; but, though the former should only be the natural
reflection of the latter, yet, when various causes have produced
factitious and corrupt manners, which are very early caught, morality
becomes an empty name. The personal reserve, and sacred respect for
cleanliness and delicacy in domestic life, which French women almost
despise, are the graceful pillars of modesty; but, far from despising
them, if the pure flame of patriotism have reached their bosoms, they
should labour to improve the morals of their fellow-citizens, by
teaching men, not only to respect modesty in women, but to acquire it
themselves, as the only way to merit their esteem.

  Contending for the rights of woman, my main argument is built on
this simple principle, that if she be not prepared by education to
become the companion of man, she will stop the progress of knowledge
and virtue; for truth must be common to all, or it will be
inefficacious with respect to its influence on general practice. And
how can woman be expected to co-operate unless she know why she
ought to be virtuous? unless freedom strengthen her reason till she
comprehend her duty, and see in what manner it is connected with her
real good? If children are to be educated to understand the true
principle of patriotism, their mother must be a patriot; and the
love of mankind, from which an orderly train of virtues spring, can
only be produced by considering the moral and civil interest of
mankind; but the education and situation of woman, at present, shuts
her out from such investigations.

  In this work I have produced many arguments, which to me were
conclusive, to prove that the prevailing notion respecting a sexual
character was subversive of morality, and I have contended, that to
render the human body and mind more perfect, chastity must more
universally prevail, and that chastity will never be respected in
the male world till the person of a woman is not, as it were,
idolized, when little virtue or sense embellish it with the grand
traces of mental beauty, or the interesting simplicity of affection.

  Consider, Sir, dispassionately, these observations-  for a glimpse
of this truth seemed to open before you when you observed, 'that to
see one half of the human race excluded by the other from all
participation of government, was a political phaenomenon that,
according to abstract principles, it was impossible to explain.' If
so, on what does your constitution rest? If the abstract rights of man
will bear discussion and explanation, those of woman, by a parity of
reasoning, will not shrink from the same test: though a different
opinion prevails in this country, built on the very arguments which
you use to justify the oppression of woman- prescription.

  Consider, I address you as a legislator, whether, when men contend
for their freedom, and to be allowed to judge for themselves
respecting their own happiness, it be not inconsistent and unjust to