Aphra Behn and Mary Astell: Feminist Icons of Eighteenth-Century Britain
Disciplines
European History | Social History | Women's History | Women's Studies
Abstract (300 words maximum)
To understand why Aphra Behn and Mary Astell stood out in the female literary sphere of the Eighteenth-Century in Britain, this paper will be examining the works of Aphra Behn and Mary Astell, as well as the criticism and reception of them as writers and their works during the long eighteenth century. Sex and gender had been evolving and changing in British society throughout history. Yet, the shift from two separate spheres of men and women in society began to intertwine faster than in the past. The work of Aphra Behn and Mary Astell is used as two examples to prove that they had created a space for the more well-known British feminists to grow from. By conducting background research on the historiography of British women’s history of the eighteenth century it has been found that women had some freedoms in the home but not in public to the extent of their male counterparts. With this discrepancy between the two sexes, there have been notable women breaking the stereotypes of eighteenth-century women. Aphra Behn created a successful career off of plays that ranged from tragedies to comedies and in between. She prospered and became as well known as her male counterparts during the beginning of the eighteenth century when women were seen as mothers and daughters and nothing else. Like Aphra Behn, Mary Astell would gain notoriety through her writing, specifically writing to her female audience. Her work would consist of philosophies and advice pieces to women on issues such as marriage and self-sustainability without a husband.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - History & Philosophy
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Amy Dunagin
Aphra Behn and Mary Astell: Feminist Icons of Eighteenth-Century Britain
To understand why Aphra Behn and Mary Astell stood out in the female literary sphere of the Eighteenth-Century in Britain, this paper will be examining the works of Aphra Behn and Mary Astell, as well as the criticism and reception of them as writers and their works during the long eighteenth century. Sex and gender had been evolving and changing in British society throughout history. Yet, the shift from two separate spheres of men and women in society began to intertwine faster than in the past. The work of Aphra Behn and Mary Astell is used as two examples to prove that they had created a space for the more well-known British feminists to grow from. By conducting background research on the historiography of British women’s history of the eighteenth century it has been found that women had some freedoms in the home but not in public to the extent of their male counterparts. With this discrepancy between the two sexes, there have been notable women breaking the stereotypes of eighteenth-century women. Aphra Behn created a successful career off of plays that ranged from tragedies to comedies and in between. She prospered and became as well known as her male counterparts during the beginning of the eighteenth century when women were seen as mothers and daughters and nothing else. Like Aphra Behn, Mary Astell would gain notoriety through her writing, specifically writing to her female audience. Her work would consist of philosophies and advice pieces to women on issues such as marriage and self-sustainability without a husband.