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isabellita's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting book. I had some trouble finishing it because the language is quite challenging. But it's incredible to see that her ideas are still so relevant today.
maevesullivan_'s review against another edition
3.75
a product if its time, and a classic for a reason. yeah women.
becmcgrath's review against another edition
Read for uni - very interesting though!
(DNF)
(DNF)
aimeesbookishlife's review against another edition
4.0
It was very hard to give this book a rating without thinking of the other amazing feminist texts that were directly inspired by it. In many ways, Wollstonecraft was a proto-feminist, paving the way for generations after her; for instance, her thoughts on female suffrage must undoubtedly have had an impact on the women of the Pankhurst family about a century later.
Published in 1792, it's inevitable that this book is a product of its time - many modern feminists will raise an eyebrow at the way she expects women to be wives and mothers, as well as to be chaste and modest. She is also scathing of women who are overly sensitive or who care about 'fripperies' like their appearance, and some of her internalized misogyny can make you wince a bit.
In Wollstonecraft's defence, though, she is quick to point out the many other roles that women could assume once fully emancipated: "study the art of healing and be physicians as well as nurses (...), "study politics" or "business of various kinds". She is also very critical of the double-standard that has existed between men and women since time immemorial; that women are expected to be chaste and are judged if they are not, but that men aren't held to the same standards.
This edition packed the text into a very small space, meaning the text was small and, for me at least, this made it a more difficult read than it ought to have been. It's fine for a quick read-through, but if you want to study this text in more detail it would be worth plumping for a more expensive and expansive edition. However the forward by Zoe Williams was useful to help me understand the context that Wollstonecraft was writing in, so that would be worth a skim-read at least.
Published in 1792, it's inevitable that this book is a product of its time - many modern feminists will raise an eyebrow at the way she expects women to be wives and mothers, as well as to be chaste and modest. She is also scathing of women who are overly sensitive or who care about 'fripperies' like their appearance, and some of her internalized misogyny can make you wince a bit.
In Wollstonecraft's defence, though, she is quick to point out the many other roles that women could assume once fully emancipated: "study the art of healing and be physicians as well as nurses (...), "study politics" or "business of various kinds". She is also very critical of the double-standard that has existed between men and women since time immemorial; that women are expected to be chaste and are judged if they are not, but that men aren't held to the same standards.
This edition packed the text into a very small space, meaning the text was small and, for me at least, this made it a more difficult read than it ought to have been. It's fine for a quick read-through, but if you want to study this text in more detail it would be worth plumping for a more expensive and expansive edition. However the forward by Zoe Williams was useful to help me understand the context that Wollstonecraft was writing in, so that would be worth a skim-read at least.
naomileunis's review against another edition
2.0
Sadly the English is just too difficult to understand. It's been years since I struggled so much to read an English book, I honestly think I understood maybe half of what Wollstonecraft wrote
marieexplores's review against another edition
4.0
This was a difficult read for me. While I know Wollenstonecraft was a revolutionary in her time, inspiring the works of Austen, her daughter Mary Shelley, and so many others, the constant proclamation of "the weaker sex" and the racist language throughout challenged me. I cannot express how many times I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room in frustration. I understand that she is a product of her culture and time: I would never contest the radical nature of her philosophy given her context. But if I heard people referred to as Barbarians, exotics, or "members of the weaker sex" one more time, I was going to scream.
Bottom line: pivotal read given the historical context. Had to suppress my up-chuck reflex given my context.
Bottom line: pivotal read given the historical context. Had to suppress my up-chuck reflex given my context.
ermunleybooks's review against another edition
3.0
I like this book more for its message and impact on modern/period society than I do for the writing itself. Though the writing can be hard to follow at time, simply because of the period style, the ideas therein are phenomenal! Everyone should read this book, or at least bits of it, at some point in their life.
Message would get 5 stars, but, because the style is a bit difficult for some, I only give it 3 stars
Message would get 5 stars, but, because the style is a bit difficult for some, I only give it 3 stars