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= A Letter to the Women of England =

Summary
A Letter to the Women of England, on the Injustice of Mental Subordination (1799), written by actress, author, and poetess Mary Robinson, addresses the gender inequalities present in 18th century England. In the 18th century, it was believed that women shouldn’t be opinionated or independent, and they were often ridiculed for being formally educated. Early on, Robinson makes it known that she is writing to her fellow English women to remind them of their worth. She calls them “equal associates of man” (p. 41) then proceeds to explain the contradiction present in England’s society at the time involving the abilities of women. She often refers to women as the “weaker creature,” but she follows the title with various trials and tribulations women must face every day. For example, women are considered defenseless, yet if they attempt to fend off threats they will be charged with a crime where a man would have been perceived as heroic. These double standards attempt to take away any ability women have of protecting and standing up for themselves during the 18th century, and if they do they will likely face serious consequences. They essentially force women to remain the “weaker” sex regardless of how strong they truly are.

Although these double standards were present in England at the time, Robinson reports that other countries had respect for the strength of women. She gives a detailed list of many historically strong and respected women, many from Greece and Rome. Robinson believes that England is home to many intelligent and talented women, but they are not given the opportunities to utilize their talents in their home country. She argues that the women of England must leave their country and pursue their aspirations elsewhere if they have hopes of being successful. Robinson finds this tragic since England is supposed to be an enlightened country full of opportunity.

At the end of her letter, Robinson announces her interest in creating universities specifically for women. Her vision involves classic studies for women who have the intellectual capacity. To financially support this mission, wealthy citizens must pay fines to these universities. This will enable women of future generations to be learned and treated as equals to men. Her last call to the women of England touches on the opportunities that should be available for their daughters. If changes are made now to the limitations society places on women, daughters and granddaughters won’t need to feel inferior to men and can exercise their intellectual abilities to accomplish their aspirations without leaving England.

Historical Context
At the time Robinson wrote A Letter to the Women of England, she was painfully aware of the double standards women faced based on her own experiences. Robinson had often been scrutinized for her actions, although the men in her life committed similar actions and remained unscathed. Robinson was often criticized for her various relationships as they were always in the public eye. She was perceived to be impure and lacking morals for her infidelity, but her husband and lovers also cheated but were never criticized to the extent that Robinson was. She was also accused of pursuing relationships that would aid her financially. This was looked down on by the public who painted Robinson as a manipulator. The fact that wealthy families constantly marry for money was overlooked in order to make Robinson look guilty. Due to these judgments among others, Robinson couldn’t help but be aware of the inequalities society places on men and women.