Beginning of Sex Talks: Mary Wollstonecraft

Written by Akkarasorn Opilan (Ang-Ang) | Edited by David Bang | Designed by Pollisa Tien-iam-arnan (Polly) and Sanisa Kongsiri (Kym)

To simply put it in a sentence, Mary Wollstonecraft believed that education is a women’s salvation. Wollstonecraft was born into the era (18th century) where women are considered to be objects: a mere decoration in the house, just like a vase, a chair, or a table, in which she only became human once she married and bore a son. 

Without Wollstonecraft, the co-education system would have not been developed, and she was also one of the first prominent figures to call for women’s suffrage.

Back then, the idea of women voting was completely absurd! And, of course, having men and women in the same classroom was a completely radical ideology.

Wollstonecraft is known as a writer whose famous literary work included A Vindication of Rights of Women. Most of her literary pieces involved the discussion and exploration of human nature. She believed, in terms of intelligence, men and women are both equal and knowledge is equally bestowed to both sexes by God.

Although her literature is stimulating, I was more inspired by her less famous discussion on sexual desire.

During Wollstonecraft’s time, first-wave feminism focused on equality in terms of basic human rights, more specifically education and the right to vote. The idea of sex was not yet greatly explored because it was still considered to be taboo. In this modern-day, most countries give women the right to vote, and coeducation is very common. However, the stigma of sex talks, when it comes to women, is still very stereotypical.

It used to be a common thought that women existed to please her man in bed. Sexual desire for men was normal, whereas a woman with sexual desire meant that she belonged in an asylum. Wollstonecraft argued that a man’s sexual desire is as much of a taboo as a woman’s sexual desire and that both are equally “lowly.”

Women were often sexualized and objectified by men, yet men, in turn, were not. Breasts, boobs, and butts are only there to please men, but not often where men’s bodies used for women. There was never a male term for ‘whore’ and ‘slut,’ and a man’s sexual desire is a triumph. 

If equality could be achieved in terms of education and voting rights, as discussed by Wollstonecraft, so should the stereotype of sexuality. Sex should be normalized, and nudity between both men and women should be empowered.