Mary Wollstonecraft was not only a figure of the Enlightenment, but one of the famous pioneers of the feminist cause. She will inspire women of the 18th century as well as women of the future with her novels such as The Vindication of the Rights of Women and The Vindication of the Rights of Man. She sincerely believed that educating women would not only enable women to develop as human beings, but also to be independent of men. At a time when women were subordinate to men, Mary stood up for her beliefs and preached for equality. Thus, Wollstonecraft's beliefs in women's equality would shape the future of the world's women. Mary Wollstonecraft was born on April 27, 1759 in London to a violent and wasteful father, Edward Wollstonecraft and Elizabeth Dixon. The second of seven children, she and her family moved frequently. But in Yorkshire, she meets the pastor Mr. Clare, whom she begins to develop intellectually. She would become a maid, governess, teacher, translator and writer throughout her life. She aspired to live an independent life, but struggled to earn a decent wage with the jobs she held and the fact that she lived in a world where women were expected to become obedient wives. Mary's sister Eliza was reportedly disturbed by the difficult birth of her daughter and the mistreatment of her husband. So Mary convinced Eliza to leave her husband and baby. The sisters would go on to open a school with Mary's beloved friend, Fanny Blood. When Fanny dies in Mary's arms from complications during childbirth, Mary returns to school and discovers that she suffered while she was away with Fanny. Mary then closed the school and wrote Reflections on the Education of Girls. It then becomes a medium of paper accessible to all. Mary Wollstonecraft accomplished many things in her life, but most importantly, she inspired other women to be independent and improve their lives. Mary lived a scandalous life in her time. Not only did she have children out of wedlock, but she firmly believed that she did not need to dedicate her life to another man simply because that was the social norm. She was an advocate for education and equality due to the hardships she experienced in her life struggling to survive. Mary Wollstonecraft's achievements as an inspiration to women of her time and the future, as well as her support of education allowing women to grow not only intellectually but independently, make her an inspiring figure of the Age of Enlightenment. Thus, Mary Wollstonecraft's contribution to the Enlightenment was radical and inspiring for future generations of women...