1. What aspects of women’s lives does Wollstonecraft seem interested in changing? Why?
2. Wollstonecraft quotes Pope’s famous line “Whatever is, is right.” How does she interpret this line? Does she agree with Pope?
3. Do you think women are still raised to be “pleasing”? Why or why not?
4. What does Wollstonecraft have to say about marriage? In her view, what would allow a woman to be a good wife and mother?
Wollstonecraft is looking at Rousseau through the lens of Pope’s conception of creation.
Rousseau, she says, points to the differing physical characteristics and draws conclusions about divine creative intent: Men are naturally higher in the “great chain” given their superior physical strength. And who among us is fit to argue with God’s design?
But Wollstonecraft doesn’t accept this “common sense” argument; she uses Pope’s own words to refute it. She suggests that it’s right and good to question what we think we know about divine creative intent. Exercising our God-given cognition is a part of being human; therefore, this questioning (of gender roles) is a part of the “is” that “is right”.
Do you think women are still raised to be “pleasing”? Why or why not?
As a New Yorkers, I can say that the way women are raised, particularly in the last two generations, to be more independent than pleasing, or rather submissive. However, there are some cultures that still raise their daughters submissive, but in my experiences, the girls normally grow up to be independent due to socialization in schools, from grammar to college.
I think a couple of factors play a part in it but the most important one is the economy. As the index goes up, while pay rates move slowly, the demand for both men and women to work grows even stronger.
Another factor are civil rights movements, and how feminism has changed how groups of women respond to old-school demands. Misogyny has always been a part of so many cultures, throughout history. Mary Wollstonecreft points out how Rousseu defends those points by saying how women are made, for lack of a better term, inferior to men and a supposed purpose being submissive. “Whatever is, is right,” is his argument, while he expects women to conform that idea.
I believe that in other countries, women are still raised to cater to their husbands, but that is progressively changing as time is passing.
1. What aspects of women’s lives does Wollstonecraft seem interested in changing? Why?
Wollstonecraft seeks for women’s rights. She wants women to detach themselves from conforming and pleasing men to becoming independent, educated and self fulfilled. She strives for the self-actualization in women, where women acknowledges and strives for their full potentialities.
3. Do you think women are still raised to be “pleasing”? Why or why not?
Although there are still parts in the world where women are still raised to submit or rather please, we can see the progression of women’s rights, independence and feminism in most of today’s society. If we look at today’s news that appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Saudi Arabia lifted the ban on women driving. This is a remarkable accomplishment if one considers the difficulty and limitations women experience in that region, where they have very little say or rights. It’s incredible to see that after so many years there are still limitations for women, even if they seem minuscule to some, they are in fact very important. Nonetheless, women continue to stand up, make a voice for themselves and not conform to what society once sought after in the structures of how women were to be.
What does Wollstonecraft have to say about marriage? In her view, what would allow a woman to be a good wife and mother?
Wollstonecraft argues that women who are absolutely dependent on their husbands will be cunning, mean and selfish. She says that women will be virtuous if they are independent of men and because they are submissive to men, they lack the natural affection that would make them good wives and mothers. For a wife to be virtuous, she must not depend on her husband for survival and she must perform her civil duties. If a woman has nothing of her own, she won’t be generous in her actions, such as providing education for her children or breastfeeding them which would take away the title of a wife. Wollstonecraft argues against Rousseau and other male writers who posit that the only thing women learn is to please. If pleasing is the only factor, then a woman will most likely be unfaithful and try to please other men. Instead of treating women as submissive and rather recognizing them as a companion, women would be “more observant daughters, more affectionate sisters, more faithful wives, more reasonable mothers and in a word, better citizens.” Genuine love and affection from her husband will make a woman more virtuous which will ultimately allow her to be a good wife and mother.
What aspects of women’s lives does Wollstonecraft seem interested in changing? Why?
Wollstonecraft seems interested in changing the idea of women being inferior to men. She wants to change women to be more independent and less “pleasing” to men. Rather than being educated to be housewives and dependent, Wollstonecraft wants women to grow as independent citizens because they will ultimately be more “better citizens.” Experiencing adulthood with a series of unfortunate events with men Wollstonecraft most likely took this approach in changing women’s lives because she knew without men, women will be free and able on their own.
3. Do you think women are still raised to be “pleasing”? Why or why not?
Women these days are still raised to be ‘pleasing’. Even if they are not taught the typical house chores and child care, they are still being taught things here and there that are meant to make them more pleasing to society and to men. For example, women are taught that they should always be clean and well dressed and listen to what other people tell them to fix. Just physical appearances themselves say a lot about women in modern society. People automatically assume that if a woman does not have a typical body shape, then they are not desirable; or that women should not have muscles because it will make them look too manly. I think that these standards women are given are ridiculous because we should be allowed to do whatever pleases ourselves.
3. Do you think women are still raised to be “pleasing”? Why or why not?
I think it depends on the parents. Personally, my parents have always encouraged me to come to college so I can get a degree and be successful and not have to rely on anyone but myself. My mom taught me to cook and clean but it was more for my benefit and not so I could cook for my husband in the future. However, I know there are parents who raise their daughters with the idea that they have to learn to cook and clean so they can find a husband to maintain them. I know people still have these ideas because sometimes when I tell people I don’t like to cook they always say, “how are you gonna find a husband like that?” basically expecting me to like to cook just so I can please a man.
3. Do you think women are still raised to be “pleasing”? Why or why not?
Although there more gender equality with the rise of feminism movements around the world, I still think that women are still raised to be “pleasing”, especially those who are raised in more conservative cultures. Women are born to live up to the expectation of being a good housewife and submissive to men. In the past, women mostly stayed at home and took care of the family. Now most women work and contribute to their family’s income. But they are still expected to know how to maintain a family, do the chores, take care of children and serve their men, if they dont know how to do general house chores they will be judge. Society’s perceived roles of women are still apparent, there are still a lot of inequality and more needs to be done.
Do you think women are still raised to be “pleasing”? Why or why not?
In today’s society, women are still being raised to be “pleasing”. From a young age, girls are taught that their role in society is to care for a man and for children. For example, in toy stores, we see kitchen sets and cleaning tools being targeted to a young female audience. Hardware tools and car toys are being targeted to a young male audience. Therefore, stereotypical gender roles are being taught from a very young age and it is up to today’s generation to break out of those roles.
I do not believe women are being raised the same way as Wollstonecraft living period. There have been countless progress where women do not need to depend on others and create more livable opportunities to succeed. There are definitely cultures that do think otherwise about women position in a man and society but the overall perspective for women in the 21st century is to self-pleasing and independent of their own choices.
Do you think women are still raised to be “pleasing”? Why or why not?
I think that to a certain extent, women are still raised to be “pleasing.” It may not be in the same exact context as Mary Wollstonecraft. If people tell females to be submissive and put their husbands before their own happiness, I would imagine a rebellion. However, I think that females are still taught how to be “pleasing” in an indirect way. For example, there are still societal norms of how females should look like. Young females are still chasing the concept of having a flat stomach and a thigh gap. This is what people in society mark as “pleasing.” This is however, not to say that all females are confining themselves to this standard. There are plenty of other influential figures that don’t having these societal “pleasing” qualities. Also, we all know that not having a thigh gap is okay and that’s something people can’t control because of their genetics. But there are men, who subconsciously, encourage this characteristic in what they say or in what their preferences are.
3. Do you think women are still raised to be “pleasing”? Why or why not?
I do think that women are still raised to be “pleasing”. I remember in my sociology class, it is call gender socialization. Women are still expected to behave in a certain way by the influence of social values. In our currently generation, a great example to show this is through toys that girls are expected to have. Girls are often promoted with cooking sets, doll strollers, or make up toys. In our current social norm, women are still expected to performing task based on their gender, such as raised to take care of the children, and be submissive to their husband. In Wollstonecraft’s context women are still inferior to men. This is still the same belief that value that many countries still practice.
3. Do you think women are still raised to be “pleasing”? Why or why not?
As a Korean woman, I believe women are still raised to be “pleasing”. These days, it looks like Feminism finally become the conversation topic in Korea. However, our society hasn’t broken the barrier of sexual inequality yet. These days, I see a lot of women who are suffering from postnatal depression. The main cause is that most of women are working and raising child by themselves and doing household affairs without their husband’s help. Once you marry, wife exists for husband’s happiness. Wife cooks and gives birth and does chores. I know this bad custom is gradually changing, but it is still everywhere in Korea.
3. Do you think women are still raised to be “pleasing”? Why or why not?
Personally I think that the woman is no longer high to be pleasant because since the moment when the woman has itself said that it must be considered likewise to the same title both at the professional level and the level of sharing of the household tasks with man the woman completely missed her main purpose as mother of the world and educator of the children and master of the home because today we are witnessing a degradation of the society and the children due to lack of affection and maternal and paternal support during their childhood because the problems in the homes of our often leads to many divorces and separations from where abandoned children and young people.
3. Do you think women are still raised to be “pleasing”? Why or why not?
I believe that in many cases women are still raised to be pleasing, especially in many other cultures around the world women are raised to believe their sole purpose is to please and serve men. Although, this is much less common in America, and many families do raise young females to please themselves, instead of society, which is becoming ever more common as feminist ideas become more prevalent in todays world. However, often times the values and ideas placed in the mind of young females about how females should act, or what they should take interest in can still instill those ideas of women needing to be pleasing. The expectations women are generally required to meet to “look appropriate” for most occasions usually require more effort and attention to outer appearance than men would have to meet to attend the same occasion. For example, even in day to day life someone could see a woman with out makeup on or her hair done and assume she is lazy and unkempt, however you could see a man who simply woke up in the morning, got dressed, and left and find his appearance perfectly normal. This is a perfect example of society still believing that woman need to look or act a certain way to please society and the people around them.
Do you think women are still raised to be “pleasing”? Why or why not?
I believe women are still raised to be “pleasing” since they grow up watching unrealistic idealizations of women from the media. Many young girls get influenced by celebrities who promote makeups and structure of their body thinking that is ‘pleasing”. Bunch of girls follow unhealthy routines and ends up damaging their body and also looking worse than before. I think it is important for celebrities to show little girls that they look just good the way they are and start promoting self-love.