Thoughts on the education of daughters: With reflections on female conduct in the more important duties of life

Thoughts on the Education of Daughters (1787) by Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–1797) is her first major work, focusing on the moral and intellectual development of women. She emphasizes the importance of rational education for girls to prepare them for meaningful roles in society, beyond mere domesticity. Wollstonecraft critiques superficial accomplishments taught to women and advocates virtues like reason, independence, and modesty. The work laid the foundation for her later feminist writings, highlighting early calls for women’s empowerment through education and moral integrity.