THE PINK STAIRS
‘The lady doth protest too much, methinks’‘- Queen Gertrude, Hamlet. My apologies Queen Gertrude, does your own sense of entitlement overshadow any common sense you ought to have? Does watching a being of your own sex speak up vex you that much?
Proto-feminism and feminism are not the same. Proto-feminism is the ideologies and beliefs that emerged before the time of the feminist movement advocating for equality and mainly the right to vote, which were precursors to actual feminism and activism. Proto-feminism was merely thought, in contrast to feminism, which was action. Feminism was, in a way, an organised movement and set of ideologies that strive to achieve political, economic and social equality.
Mischief, thou art afoot, declared Mary Wollstonecraft, known for writing books like ‘A Vindication of The Rights Of Man’ and ‘Maria: The Wrongs of Women’. She is often mistakenly labelled as a feminist when she was in fact, a proto-feminist. This is primarily because of the historical context and background she wrote in. Wollstonecraft lived in the late 18th century, a time before the rising of feminist movements. The term ‘feminism’ and the organised feminist movements emerged in the late 19th century. Her writing undoubtedly still resonates with our modern ideas of feminism, but her novel ‘Maria: The Wrongs of Women’ may be viewed as problematic by some.
While she does not distinctly advocate for womens’ rights, there is use of subversive satire and humour, evoking her own kind of rebellion. In ‘A Vindication of The Rights Of Man’, she writes “I wish to show that elegance is inferior to virtue, that the first object of laudable ambition is to obtain a character as a human being, regardless of the distinction of sex.” To analyse this sentence, it is important we recognise the key phrases, namely ‘elegance is inferior to virtue’, ‘laudable ambition’ and ‘regardless of sex.’ She was trying to convey how she believed the character of a person to be superior to the propriety and charm of one. ‘Laudable ambition,’ meaning ambition which deserves to be recognised, appreciated and praised. She then subtly hints that she wishes women to be treated as human beings and not just children focused on ideas of daintiness and frivolity.
However, the continuation of this piece is quite problematic, for she repeatedly states that by the laws of nature, women are inferior to men. The introduction itself suggests that it is the fault of her fellow women that they are oppressed. She writes, “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.” The sarcasm in this statement, I feel, is particularly condescending. This intensifies the oppressive reality women of the period faced and undoubtedly highlights her proto-feminist standpoint. Therefore, Wollstonecraft had a proto-feminist stance, not a feminist one.
Citations:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protofeminism
https://twssmagazine.com/2023/10/12/proto-feminism-the-bedrock-of-feminist-thought-today/
https://dbpedia.org/page/Protofeminism
https://homework.study.com/explanation/define-proto-feminist.html
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