Although Philosophers challenged government and society they often took a traditional view toward women. Education should be geared towards preparing

women to be a good wife and mother. Some Male social critics scolded women for

reading novels in fear that it encouraged idleness and wickedness.

Some male writers some male writers argued for improvement in women’s education and equality.

Women writers tried to improve the status of women through their literary works. Mary Astell published A Serious Proposal to

the Ladies.▪ Addressing the lack of educational opportunities

for women and criticized the unequal rights between men and women in marriage.

Through writings many women picked up on theses enlightened thoughts.

One of the Most Persuasive Women in the Enlightenment time period was Mary Wollstonecraft.

Wollstonecraft Published an essay called The Vindication of the Rights of Woman.

Argued that: women like men need education to become

virtuous and useful. Women Should enter the male-dominated

Fields of medicine and politics.

In Paris and other European cities wealthy women helped to spread Enlightenment Ideas through social gatherings called Salons.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Over a span of decades Enlightenment thinkers challenged long held ideas about society.

Enlightenment thinkers: Formed popular new theories Encouraged Reform Eventually Served as inspiration of the

American and the French Revolution.

Another outcome of the Enlightenment was a more secular (Non-Religious) outlook. People began to question openly their

religious beliefs. Prior to the Scientific Revolution and the

Enlightenment people accepted the mysteries of the universe as a work of God.

Enlightenment thinkers aimed to rid religious faith of Superstition and fear and promote religious tolerance.

As people began to turn away from the church or royalty for guidance they began to look to themselves instead.

Philosophers Encouraged people to use their own ability

and reason to judge right from wrong. Promoted thought that government was

form by the population. In all the during the Enlightenment the

concept of reason took center stage.