Mary Wollstonecraft and the beginnings of female emancipation in France and England

Book excerpt: This book explores the historical context of feminist movements of the 18th century in France and England. Through a detailed analysis of theories on the position of women, the book highlights the beginnings of a feminist movement in France, the position of French women in society, and the feminist and anti-feminist tendencies among English Augustans. Additionally, the book examines qualified feminism through the Bluestockings and radical feminism through Mary Wollstonecraft. It also offers a comprehensive look at the origins of female emancipation and the influential figures that shaped the feminist movement in Europe during the 18th century.