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ded; without having a voice; from a participation of the natural rights of mankind; prove first; to ward off the charge of injustice and inconsistency; that they want reason; else this flaw in your NEW CONSTITUTION; the first constitution founded on reason; will ever show that man must; in some shape; act like a tyrant; and tyranny; in whatever part of society it rears its brazen front; will ever undermine morality。 I have repeatedly asserted; and produced what appeared to me irrefragable arguments drawn from matters of fact; to prove my assertion; that women cannot; by force; be confined to domestic concerns; for they will however ignorant; intermeddle with more weighty affairs; neglecting private duties only to disturb; by cunning tricks; the orderly plans of reason which rise above their comprehension。 Besides; whilst they are only made to acquire personal accomplishments; men will seek for pleasure in variety; and faithless husbands will make faithless wives; such ignorant beings; indeed; will be very excusable when; not taught to respect public good; nor allowed any civil right; they attempt to do themselves justice by retaliation。 The box of mischief thus opened in society; what is to preserve private virtue; the only security of public freedom and universal happiness? Let there be then no coercion ESTABLISHED in society; and the common law of gravity prevailing; the sexes will fall into their proper places。  And; now that more equitable laws are forming your citizens; marriage may become more sacred; your young men may choose wives from motives of affection; and your maidens allow love to root out vanity。 The father of a family will not then weaken his constitution and debase his sentiments; by visiting the harlot; nor forget; in obeying the call of appetite; the purpose for which it was implanted; and the mother will not neglect her children to practise the arts of coquetry; when sense and modesty secure her the friendship of her husband。 But; till men become attentive to the duty of a father; it is vain to expect women to spend that time in their nursery which they; 〃wise in their generation;〃 choose to spend at their glass; for this exertion of cunning is only an instinct of nature to enable them to obtain indirectly a little of that power of which they are unjustly denied a share; for; if women are not permitted to enjoy legitimate rights; they will render both men and themselves vicious; to obtain illicit privileges。 I wish; sir; to set some investigations of this kind afloat in France; and should they lead to a confirmation of my principles; when your constitution is revised; the rights of woman may be respected; if it be fully proved that reason calls for this respect; and loudly demands JUSTICE for one half of the human race。 I am; sir; Yours respectfully; M。 W。



INTRODUCTION

After considering the historic page; and viewing the living world with anxious solicitude; the most melancholy emotions of sorrowful indignation have depressed my spirits; and I have sighed when obliged to confess; that either nature has made a great difference between man and man; or that the civilization; which has hitherto taken place in the world; has been very partial。  I have turned over various books written on the subject of education; and patiently observed the conduct of parents and the management of schools; but what has been the result? a profound conviction; that the neglected education of my fellow creatures is the grand source of the misery I deplore; and that women in particular; are rendered weak and wretched by a variety of concurring causes; originating from one hasty conclusion。  The conduct and manners of women; in fact; evidently prove; that their minds are not in a healthy state; for; like the flowers that  are planted in too rich a soil; strength and usefulness are sacrificed to beauty; and the flaunting leaves; after having pleased a fastidious eye; fade; disregarded on the stalk; long before the season when they ought to have arrived at maturity。  One cause of this barren blooming I attribute to a false system of education; gathered from the books written on this subject by men; who; considering females rather as women than human creatures; have been more anxious to make them alluring mistresses than rational wives; and the understanding of the sex has been so bubbled by this specious homage; that the civilized women of the present century; with a few exceptions; are only anxious to inspire love; when they ought to cherish a nobler ambition; and by their abilities and virtues exact respect。 In a treatise; therefore; on female rights and manners; the works which have been particularly written for their improvement must not be overlooked; especially when it is asserted; in direct terms; that the minds of women are enfeebled by false refinement; that the books of instruction; written by men of genius; have had the same tendency as more frivolous productions; and that; in the true style of Mahometanism; they are only considered as females; and not as a part of the human species; when improvable reason is allowed to be the dignified distinction; which raises men above the brute creation; and puts a natural sceptre in a feeble hand。 Yet; because I am a woman; I would not lead my readers to suppose; that I mean violently to agitate the contested question respecting the equality and inferiority of the sex; but as the subject lies in my way; and I cannot pass it over without subjecting the main tendency of my reasoning to misconstruction; I shall stop a moment to deliver; in a few words; my opinion。  In the government of the physical world; it is observable that the female; in general; is inferior to the male。  The male pursues; the female yieldsthis is the law of nature; and it does not appear to be suspended or abrogated in favour of woman。  This physical superiority cannot be deniedand it is a noble prerogative!  But not content with this natural pre…eminence; men endeavour to sink us still lower; merely to render us alluring objects for a moment; and women; intoxicated by the adoration which men; under the influence of their senses; pay them; do not seek to obtain a durable interest in their hearts; or to become the friends of the fellow creatures who find amusement in their society。 I am aware of an obvious inference: from every quarter have I heard exclamations against masculine women; but where are they to be found?  If; by this appellation; men mean to inveigh against their ardour in hunting; shooting; and gaming; I shall most cordially join in the cry; but if it be; against the imitation of manly virtues; or; more properly speaking; the attainment of those talents and virtues; the exercise of which ennobles the human character; and which raise females in the scale of animal being; when they are comprehensively termed mankindall those who view them with a philosophical eye must; I should think; wish with me; that they may every day grow more and more masculine。 This discussion naturally divides the subject。  I shall first consider women in the grand light of human creatures; who; in common with men; are placed on this earth to unfold their faculties; and afterwards I shall more particularly point out their peculiar designation。 I wish also to steer clear of an error; which many respectable writers have fallen into; for the instruction which has hitherto been addressed to women; has rather been applicable to LADIES; if the little indirect advice; that is scattered through Sandford and Merton; be excepted; but; addressing my sex in a firmer tone; I pay particular attention to those in the middle class; because they appear to be in the most natural state。  Perhaps the seeds of false refinement; immorality; and vanity have ever been shed by the great。  Weak; artificial beings raised above the common wants and affections of their race; in a premature unnatural manner; undermine the very foundation of virtue; and spread corruption through the whole mass of society!  As a class of mankind they have the strongest claim to pity! the education of the rich tends to render them vain and helpless; and the unfolding mind is not strengthened by the practice of those duties which dignify the human character。  They only live to amuse themselves; and by the same law which in nature invariably produces certain effects; they soon only afford barren amusement。 But as I purpose taking a separate view of the different ranks of society; and of the moral character of women; in each; this hint is; for the present; sufficient; and I have only alluded to the subject; because it appears to me to be the very essence of an introduction to give a cursory account of the contents of the work it introduces。 My own sex; I hope; will excuse me; if I treat them like rational creatures; instead of flattering their FASCINATING graces; and viewing them as if they were in a state of perpetual childhood; unable to stand alone。  I earnestly wish to point out in what true dignity and human happiness consistsI wish to persuade women to endeavour to acquire strength; both of mind and body; and to convince them; that the soft phrases; susceptibility of heart; delicacy of sentiment; and refinement of taste; are almost synonymous with epithets of weakness; and that th

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