Mary Wollstonecraft

Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–1797) was an English writer, philosopher and advocate of women’s rights. Born in London, she became one of the earliest and most influential voices in the movement for female equality. Her best-known work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), argued passionately for women’s education and intellectual independence. She also wrote novels, essays and travel literature, and was the mother of Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein. Her pioneering ideas on equality and education continue to influence feminist thought today.