Mary Wollstonecraft was an English writer and a strong advocate for women’s rights, particularly in the realm of education. She lived in Southwark and made lasting contributions to feminist thought.

In 1792, Wollstonecraft published A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, a revolutionary work that called for equal education and treatment for women and men. Drawing from her own experiences as a teacher and governess, she critiqued an educational system that conditioned women to be “frivolous and incapable.”

Wollstonecraft argued that girls should have access to the same educational opportunities as boys, and should not be limited to the roles of wives and mothers. She envisioned women as vital contributors to both society and the economy.

Today, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman remains one of the most influential texts in feminism, inspiring generations in the fight for equality. To learn more about Mary Wollstonecraft, visit her plaque at 42 Dolben Street just down the road from Courage Yard!

Image credit: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, oil on canvas by Richard Rothwell, first exhibited 1840; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.