A Serious Proposal To The Ladies
300
Book • Nonfiction
England • 1690s
1694
Adult
18+ years
In A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Mary Astell argues for the uniform education of women in both religious and secular fields to make them more moral and productive members of society. She proposes establishing monastery schools where women can be educated without the distraction of men, supporting her position with philosophical arguments to advance their roles and opportunities in society.
Informative
Inspirational
Contemplative
Challenging
Hopeful
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Mary Astell's A Serious Proposal To The Ladies is praised for its pioneering feminist ideas and strong advocacy for women's education. Readers appreciate Astell's clear and compelling prose. However, some find her arguments repetitive and her conservative views on religion limiting. Overall, it remains a significant historical work in feminist literature.
A reader who would enjoy A Serious Proposal To The Ladies by Mary Astell is likely interested in early feminist literature, women's history, and philosophical discussions on gender equality. Comparable to readers of Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman and Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex, they appreciate works advocating for women's education and empowerment.
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A Serious Proposal to the Ladies is often considered an early feminist text, written by Mary Astell in 1694, advocating for women's education at a time when such views were rare.
Mary Astell was nicknamed the "first English feminist" due to her radical ideas presented in the book, which challenged the societal norms of the 17th century.
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The book suggests the establishment of a female-only academic retreat or college, emphasizing intellectual development away from the distractions and limitations imposed by male-dominated society.
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300
Book • Nonfiction
England • 1690s
1694
Adult
18+ years
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