Friday, October 29, 2010

If women still choose to get married in spite of Wollstonecraft's argument about equality, is it a violation of Wollstonecraft's ideas?

Probably not. Although Wollstonecraft had plenty to say about marriage in "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman," you won't see her saying (or even hinting) that marriage should be avoided entirely.


Her point is that women need to educate themselves, become good citizens, develop morals, be strong, and basically be good people who think rationally. Marriages based on physical attraction and flirtation are pointless, she says, because those things fade with time, while mutual respect and friendship can last forever in a marriage.


Interestingly, the answer to this question will be more meaningful if we assign a time period to it.


That is: "If women still choose to get married today, in the year 2016 or later, in spite of Wollstonecraft's argument about equality, is it a violation of Wollstonecraft's ideas?"


In that case, definitely not. Although you could find plenty of support for the idea that men and women have not yet achieved equality today, there are major advances that have been made toward that goal. 


Or: "If women in Wollstonecraft's time still choose to get married in spite of Wollstonecraft's argument about equality, is it a violation of Wollstonecraft's ideas?"


Still, probably not, for the reasons discussed above. To find more meaning here, let's consider some questions that would be a violation of Wollstonecraft's ideas in any time period:


1. If women aim to snag their husbands solely by looking hot and acting flirty, in spite of Wollstonecraft's argument about equality, is it a violation of Wollstonecraft's ideas? Yes.


2. If women enter marriage thinking that passionate love and romance are everlasting and that these will keep the marriage strong until the couple reaches old age, in spite of Wollstonecraft's argument about equality, is it a violation of Wollstonecraft's ideas? Yes.


3. If women decide to leave college early or skip it entirely because they already found a man, so what's the point, in spite of Wollstonecraft's argument about equality, is it a violation of Wollstonecraft's ideas? Yes.


4. If women keep quiet about their own ideas, avoid becoming physically stronger through exercise, and/or dress in clothes so tight they hurt or high heels that injure their feet, especially for the purpose of attracting a husband... all in spite of Wollstonecraft's argument about equality, is it a violation of Wollstonecraft's ideas? Yes.

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