 Although Philosophers challenged government and society they often took a traditional view toward women.  Education should be geared towards preparing women to be a good wife and mother.  Some Male social critics scolded women for reading novels in fear that it encouraged idleness and wickedness.  Some male writers some male writers argued for improvement in women’s education and equality.

 Women writers tried to improve the status of women through their literary works.  Mary Astell published A Serious Proposal to the Ladies. ▪ Addressing the lack of educational opportunities for women and criticized the unequal rights between men and women in marriage.  Through writings many women picked up on theses enlightened thoughts.

 One of the Most Persuasive Women in the Enlightenment time period was Mary Wollstonecraft.  Wollstonecraft Published an essay called The Vindication of the Rights of Woman.  Argued that:  women like men need education to become virtuous and useful.  Women Should enter the male-dominated Fields of medicine and politics.

 In Paris and other European cities wealthy women helped to spread Enlightenment Ideas through social gatherings called Salons. Mary Wollstonecraft

 Over a span of decades Enlightenment thinkers challenged long held ideas about society.  Enlightenment thinkers:  Formed popular new theories  Encouraged Reform  Eventually Served as inspiration of the American and the French Revolution.

 Another outcome of the Enlightenment was a more secular (Non-Religious) outlook.  People began to question openly their religious beliefs.  Prior to the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment people accepted the mysteries of the universe as a work of God.  Enlightenment thinkers aimed to rid religious faith of Superstition and fear and promote religious tolerance.

 As people began to turn away from the church or royalty for guidance they began to look to themselves instead.  Philosophers  Encouraged people to use their own ability and reason to judge right from wrong.  Promoted thought that government was form by the population.  In all the during the Enlightenment the concept of reason took center stage.