Memoirs of the Author of a Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Why does she think women need strong minds and bodies
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From the text:
Only a strong mind can resolutely form its own principles; for a kind of intellectual cowardice prevails, making many men shrink from the task or do it only by halves.
Men have superior strength of body; but if it weren’t for mistaken notions of beauty, women would become strong enough •to be able to earn enough to live on, which is the true definition of ‘independent’; and •to bear the bodily inconveniences and exertions that are needed to strengthen the mind....
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman