Complicity in the Patriarchal Framework of Mary Astell's "A Serious Proposal of the Ladies"

Mary Astell is noted as one of the first figures to advocate for the rights of women and is lauded as an early feminist. Astell’s works such as “A Serious Proposal to the Ladies” have been recognized as encapsulating the roots of the women’s rights movement. This article argues that “A Serious Proposal to the Ladies” does not endorse feminist theory and argues for a patriarchal structure for women to adhere to. The thesis outlined is demonstrated through Astell’s reluctance to hold men accountable for patriarchal ideals and takes it as women’s responsibility to comply with patriarchal standards. Mary Astell, famously known for being a feminist of the Eary Modern period, fails to incorporate feminist ideals into works such as “A Serious Proposal to the Ladies.”