02485cam a22003373u 4500 57596 UtSlPG 20260610134328.0 m cr n 260607r2018||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 HQ Drake, Judith, active 1696-1707 An essay in defence of the female sex : In which are inserted the characters of a pedant, a squire, a beau, a vertuoso, a poetaster, a city-critick, &c. in a letter to a lady. Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2018 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Authorship has been attributed to both Judith Drake and Mary Astell. Release date is 2018-07-28 Produced by Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) "An Essay in Defence of the Female Sex" by James Drake is a feminist treatise written in the late 17th century. The work aims to argue against the prevailing negative perceptions of women and to assert their worth and capabilities, challenging societal norms that diminish their role. Through a series of characters and witty observations, the text explores the virtues and abilities of women, advocating for their equality with men. At the start of the essay, Drake introduces the premise of defending women against criticisms levied by male authors and societal views that deem them inferior. He discusses the barriers women face, particularly related to education and social expectation, while asserting the intelligence and worth of the female experience. The initial arguments emphasize the shortcomings of men as judges of women, framing the discourse as a response to a private conversation between friends. Drake highlights not only the intellectual capabilities of women but also their emotional and moral strengths, positioning the essay as a call for recognition and equality in a male-dominated society. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Women Astell, Mary, 1666-1731 Drake, James, 1667-1707 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/57596 98425 98425