FINDING that a Work on a subject similar to the following, has lately been published at Paris, Mrs. Robinson is induced to avow herself the Author of this Pamphlet. The first Edition was published in February last, under the fictitious Signature of Anne Frances Randall; and the mention of Mrs. Robinson's works was merely inserted with a view to mislead the reader respecting the REAL AUTHOR of the Pamphet.
Custom, from the earliest periods of antiquity, has endeavoured to place the female mind
in the subordinate ranks of intellectual sociability. Woman has ever been considered as a lovely
and fascinating part of the creation, but her claims to mental equality have not only been
questioned, by envious and interested sceptics; but, by a barbarous policy in the other sex,
considerably depressed, for want of liberal and classcial cultivation. I will not expatiate largely on
the doctrines of certain philosophical sensualists, who have aided in this destructive oppression,
because an illustrious British female, (whose death has not been sufficiently lamented, but to
whose genius posterity will render justice) has already written volumes in vindication of "The Rights of Woman." But I shall endeavour to prove that,
under the present state of mental subordination, universal knowledge is not only benumbed and
blighted, but true happiness, originating in enlightened manners, retarded in its progress. Let
woman once assert her proper sphere, unshackled by prejudice, and unsophisticated by vanity; and
pride, (the noblest species of pride,) will establish her claims to the participation of power, both
mentally and corporeally.
In order that this letter may be clearly understood, I shall proceed to prove my assertion in
the strongest, but most undecorated language. I shall remind my enlightened country-women that
they are not the mere appendages of domestic life, but the partners, the equal associates of man:
and, where they excel in intellectual powers, they are no less capable of all that prejudice and
custom have united in attributing, exclusively, to the thinking faculties of man. I argue thus, and
my assertions are incontrovertible.
Supposing that destiny, or interest, or chance, or what you will, has united a man, confessedly
of a weak understanding, and corporeal debility, to a woman strong in all the powers of intellect,
and capable of bearing the fatigues of busy life: is it not degrading to humanity that such a woman
should be the passive, the obedient slave, of such an husband? Is it not repugnant to all the laws of
nature, that her feelings, actions, and opinions, should be controuled, perverted, and debased, by
such an helpmate? Can she look for protection to a being, whom she was formed by the all wise
Creator, to protect? Impossible, yet, if from prudence, or from pity, if for the security of worldly
interest, or worldly happiness, she presumes to take a lead in domestic arrangements, or to screen
her wedded shadow from obloquy or ruin, what is she considered by the imperious sex? But an
usurper of her husband's rights; a domestic tyrant; a vindictive shrew; a petticoat philosopher; and
a disgrace to that race of mortals, known by the degrading appellation of the defenceless
sex.
The barbarity of custom's law in this enlightened country, has long been exercised
to the prejudice of woman: and even the laws of honour have been perverted to oppress her. If a
man receive an insult, he is justified in seeking retribution. He may chastise, challenge, and even
destroy his adversary. Such a proceeding in man is termed honourable; his character is exonerated
from the stigma which calumny attached to it; and his courage rises in estimation, in proportion as
it exemplifies his revenge.But were a woman to attempt such an expedient, however strong her
sense of injury, however invincible her fortitude, or important the preservation of character, she
would be deemed a murdress. Thus, custom, says, you must be free from error; you must possess
an unsullied fame: yet, if a slanderer, or a libertine, even by the most unpardonable fashoods,
deprive you of either reputation or repose, you have no remedy. He is received in the most
fastidious societies, in the cabinets of nobles, at the toilettes of coquets and prudes, while you
must bear your load of obloquy, and sink beneath the uniting efforts of calumny, ridicule, and
malevolence. Indeed we have scarcely seen a single instance where a professed libertine has been
either shunned by women, or reprobated by men, for having acted either unfeelingly or
dishonourably towards what is denominated the defenceless sex. Females, by their
mis-judging lenity, while they give proofs of a degrading triumph, cherish for themselves that
anguish,
which, in their turn, they will, unpitied, experience.
Man is able to bear the temptations of human existence better than woman, because he is
more liberally educated, and more universally acquainted with society. Yet, if he has the temerity
to annihilate the bonds of moral and domestic life, he is acquitted;
and his enormities are placed to the account of human fraility. But if woman beyond the
boundaries of decorum,
Ruin ensues, reproach, and endless shame,
And one false step, entirely damns her fame.
Such partial discriminations seem to violate all laws, divine and human! If woman be the
weaker creature, her frailty should be the more readily forgiven. She is exposed by her personal
attractions, to more perils, and yet she is not permitted to bear that shield, which man assumes;
she is not allowed the exercise of courage to repulse the enemies of her fame and
happiness; though, if she is wounded,--she is lost for ever!
Text: HTML markup by Elizabeth Fay, May 7, 1996.
