Advanced Placement (AP) World History Practice Exam

Mary Wollstonecraft is recognized as a pivotal figure in the early feminist movement, particularly for her groundbreaking advocacy for equal education for women. In her seminal work, "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman," published in 1792, she argues that women are not naturally inferior to men but rather appear to be so due to a lack of access to education. Wollstonecraft asserts that if women were given the same educational opportunities as men, they would be equally capable of engaging in rational thought and contributing meaningfully to society. Wollstonecraft's emphasis on education was revolutionary at the time, as it challenged the deeply entrenched norms that relegated women to subordinate roles and limited their intellectual development. Therefore, her contributions laid the groundwork for later advancements in women's rights and education, highlighting the necessity of equal educational access as a fundamental aspect of gender equality. This perspective makes her advocacy for equal education for women a significant cause that resonates through subsequent generations of feminist thought and action.