Mary Astell
Mary Astell (1666–1731) was an English philosopher who wrote about women's education, religion and marriage. She was born in Newcastle and spent her adult life in London.[1]
Writing and ideas
Her A Serious Proposal to the Ladies appeared in 1694 and 1697. It defended women's capacity for reasoning and proposed ways to develop their minds. Her other books include Some Reflections upon Marriage (1700) and The Christian Religion (1705).[1]
Astell's advocacy of women's learning accompanied a strong commitment to Christianity and conservative political beliefs. Scholars therefore place her arguments in their historical setting rather than treating them as identical to modern feminism. She also helped to establish a charity school for girls in Chelsea, which opened in 1709. She died in 1731.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Alice Sowaal. “Mary Astell”. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, revised 6 June 2023. Accessed 10 October 2026.
- ↑ Project Vox. “Astell (1666–1731)”, biography and chronology. Duke University research project. Accessed 10 October 2026.