Mary Astell

A High Church Tory who defended monarchy, Astell turned Locke's arguments against him. In the 1706 preface to Some Reflections upon Marriage she asked: "If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves?" Her answer was not revolution but education, including a proposed women's college, and careful choice of husband. Starting here shows that feminist argument began on the political right as well as the left.