When a woman married, she would legally give all her belongings to her husband. If she owned any land, it belonged to him. If she worked, her husband was entitled to her earnings. Lawfully the husband and wife were one person. Women were not allowed to have separate identities.
An unmarried woman would be able to life her life more freely. She could work as a servant, factory worker or schoolteacher and do as she pleased with her earnings. Though this would give her more freedom she would be frowned upon. She would be mocked as an "old maid" because she was not attractive enough to get a husband. Women were supposed to get married and have a family.
As far as education went, women were still no better off. Girls received minimum formal education. A woman should not pursue higher learning because it was ridiculous. A woman was never seen preaching or speaking in public. It was simply not done. .
Many women did not appreciate the mentality that women were inferior both economically and socially. Among these women was Mary Wollstonecraft. She started to publicize the idea of women equality and created a lasting influence that would inspire others. Mary admitted that many women were vain and ignorant, but she said that did not give anyone the right to deny them of an education or opportunity to better themselves. She spoke the words "let woman share the rights and she will emulate the virtues of man." (Huth 1).
Mary believed women were just as human as men and therefore deserved equal rights. Women were also denied the opportunity to build up their physical strength through sports. This kept girls in a state of fragility. Mary dreamed of a system where the whole school was coeducational. Men and women alike would be allowed to develop their minds as well as their body. (Huth 1).
Mary spoke of many views of women in society. She included marriage and how the two sexes were treated in very different ways.