Central Ideas in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman — Quiz
Question 15 • Language Arts 12
Read the excerpt from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Consider, Sir, dispassionately, these observations—for a glimpse of this truth seemed to open before you when you observed, 'that to see one half of the human race excluded by the other from all participation of government, was a political phænomenon that, according to abstract principles, it was impossible to explain.' If so, on what does your constitution rest? If the abstract rights of man will bear discussion and explanation, those of woman, by a parity of reasoning, will not shrink from the same test. Which statement paraphrases Wollstonecraft’s central idea?
Answer
A
If the Constitution supports men’s rights, it should support women’s rights, too.
B
If men discuss politics, then women should participate in the conversation.
C
If people want government to be fair, they should adopt a constitution.
D
If men exclude women from government, then there are fewer voters.
Explanation
Wollstonecraft argues that if the abstract rights of men can be discussed and explained, women’s rights should withstand the same reasoning. This is a parity argument: the Constitution should recognize women’s rights as well as men’s. Therefore, the statement that paraphrases her central idea is that if the Constitution supports men’s rights, it should support women’s rights, too.
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