Description: (English Protofeminist Writer, Philosopher and Rhetorician)
Mary Astell, an English protofeminist writer and philosopher, advocated for equal educational opportunities for women. She is recognized as one of the early proponents of women's rights in England and is often referred to as "the first English feminist." Astell's writings, including A Serious Proposal to the Ladies and Some Reflections Upon Marriage, emphasized the intellectual parity of men and women. Her influence extended to future generations of educated women, and she maintained close relationships with other women. Astell devoted herself to running a charitable school for girls and saw herself as a contemporary woman working towards empowering her gender.