Mary Wollenstone

Mary Wollenstone was a woman during the enlightenment period that strongly believed women's emancipation depended upon their education. To her this was a personal issue, and she was tired of witnessing brilliant women pass away without having the opportunity to leave their mark on this earth. The men of the enlightenment period viewed a strong willed woman as "masculine." However, Wollenstone points out that beauty is short-lived and once a woman grows old her beauty will fade, but her mind will last forever. Men sometimes only focus on the outer appearance of a woman without realizing that outer looks are short term. I believe Mary makes a valid point in her argument for emancipation because without intelligence, how can anyone male or female be taken serious? Education is the key to freedom, and this is something that Wollenstone and Frederick Douglass learned before it was too late.