Gender Equality During Enlightenment free essay sample

The Age of  Enlightenment  (Age of Reason) was a cultural movement of philosophers in the 17th and 18th centuries. I do not believe there was gender equality, during the Enlightenment. Intellectuals such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Astell published writings based on their beliefs in the lack of women’s rights in their society. Both, Wollstonecraft and Astell, prove that gender equality did not exist in England during pre and post Revolution. Also Enlightenment thinker Jean Jacques Rousseau from Switzerland concludes in his writings that men’s statuses are morally superior. His beliefs support gender inequality during the Enlightenment. The fact is that during the Enlightenment women were not the only ones with the lack of rights. Men also believed their rights were not justified. John Locke was an English philosopher who believed in natural rights. These were rights to life, liberty, and property. However, if we examine his theory of natural rights he only addresses men. We will write a custom essay sample on Gender Equality During Enlightenment or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The natural rights state â€Å"every Man has the right to.. † denying these rights to women. John Locke justifies women inequality through his natural rights theory. Mary Wollstonecraft was a feminist in England during the Enlightenment. She published A Vindication to Rights of Women in 1791, post Revolution. In her writing she explains women in her time are denied their potential in society. For example she states the neglect of girls’ education. She believes women should have equal education to men. Wollstonecraft also details the various ways in which women are subordinate. To support this she states they are taught that their looks are of supreme concern, and they tend to cultivate weakness. She goes on explaining how women are â€Å"helpless adornments† in their society. Wollstonecraft theorizes women’s lack of rights stem from their low status in society and insufficient education. Like Mary Wollstonecraft, Mary Astell was a feminist during the Enlightenment in England. To support her beliefs in the lack of women’s rights she published Serious Proposal to the Ladies, which consisted of several books. In her books Astell justifies women should have access to an education. She compares men’s education to the lack of women education. Astell believes women have the ability to use reason and logic. Mary Astell had a religious role in the Enlightenment. She declares women rights should be given by God. She supports her belief in inequality by theorizing if men are born free women should be born free. Her writings emphasize the lack of women’s rights during the Enlightenment. Jean Jacques Rousseau was a philosopher in Switzerland who published Emilie in 1762. Emilie was written to justify the difference between men and women. In the story, Rousseau informs readers women are made to please and to be subjugated to men. Rousseau continues  his beliefs and questions how people fail to see that women and men are so unequal. He follows that they should not have the same education. Rousseau’s writings justify that he does not believe in gender equality. During the Enlightenment gender equality did not exist. Several philosophers such as Mary Wollstonecraft, Mary Astell, John Locke, and  Jean Jacques Rousseau  justify gender inequality through their writings and all used accurate evidence that demonstrated such ideology. Some of the points proven by these writings were the lack of education, as well as the everyday standards of living and being for women. Coincidence, I think not, it is obvious that women did not have the equal rights of men. Even men in specifically were justified and defended in the natural rights. My question is where are the natural rights of women stated? Even in modern day society although government has been progressing as well as the rights of women we have yet to achieve the balance and superiority that men have always had.