Wollstonecraft explains that women uphold their reputations on a higher plane than their character because they are trained to keep their reputations “free from spot,” but she argues that character needs to be the focus and not reputation. Like Mary Astell, Wollstonecraft explains that morality, or character, should be regarded more highly than reputation. In one of her most well-known publications, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) , Wollstonecraft discusses the debate surface appearance and depth of character when she states that women spend “many of their first years of their lives in acquiring a smattering of accomplishments meanwhile strength of body and mind are sacrificed to libertine notions of beauty.” By focusing on accomplishments such as art and music, women focus on their appearance because they are activities people can see women doing, whereas focusing on strength of mind cannot be seen. Wollstonecraft was an advocate for women’s rights, and she wanted women and men to be treated equally. Mary Wollstonecraft responded to the idea that women needed to appear to be perfect in order to get a good reputation. Title page of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft.
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