How to Think Like a Woman Summary

What does it mean to be a thinking woman in a world that undervalues women’s minds?

1. Philosophy Has Struggled With Sexism

Philosophy, a field devoted to exploring intellectual freedom and truth, has long been tainted by an exclusion of women's voices. From Aristotle's claim that women were "deformed males" to Hegel’s likening of women to plants, misogyny has been a staple of philosophical tradition. Women were barred from universities, kept out of academic circles, and their intellectual contributions either erased or dismissed.

Regan Penaluna recounts how her own foray into philosophy mirrored these historical exclusions. During her academic journey, she rarely encountered female philosophers in her curriculum. Even as she pursued a PhD, she absorbed subtle yet demoralizing messages about her worth and abilities as a woman in the field. This environment perpetuated a cycle: the marginalization of women in philosophy discouraged their participation, which was then cited as evidence of their absence of talent.

The historical record belies this narrative. Women were active and influential thinkers, but their ideas often went uncredited or ignored. Penaluna’s discovery of women philosophers like Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Astell validated her experiences and demonstrated that women always had the capacity to shape philosophy.

Examples

• Aristotle deemed women intellectually inferior, setting a foundation for later exclusion.
• Penaluna’s undergraduate philosophy courses lacked a single female author.
• Historical women thinkers like Mary Astell were ridiculed in their time despite groundbreaking work.

2. Mary Astell Fought for Women’s Education

Mary Astell, an early feminist philosopher, rejected the notion that women were less rational than men. She argued for an all-female educational institution where women could freely develop their intellectual capacities without interference from men. Her groundbreaking book, A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, lays out her vision for such an institution.

Born in 1666, Astell faced bleak prospects for intellectual development due to societal norms. Yet she educated herself and went on to critique male philosophers like Locke and Hobbes. Astell believed true freedom included women’s ability to choose their life paths, whether domestic or scholarly. Her work challenged the hypocrisy of men advocating liberty and equality but denying these ideals to women.

Penaluna found solace in Astell’s bold ideas while grappling with her own disillusionment in philosophy. Astell’s resilience and advocacy showed that women’s minds deserve equal respect. However, Penaluna also recognized that Astell's work was limited by her class privilege and neglect of certain groups of women.

Examples

• Astell outlined her arguments in the revolutionary work A Serious Proposal to the Ladies.
• She publicly challenged Locke’s inconsistencies on equality.
• Penaluna’s professor dismissed women’s contributions, echoing barriers Astell faced centuries ago.

3. Damaris Masham’s Dual Role as Philosopher and Caretaker

Damaris Masham bridged the philosophical and domestic worlds. Daughter of philosopher Ralph Cudworth, her early exposure to intellectual ideas did not exempt her from societal strictures. Although Masham desired to delve fully into philosophy, she was pushed toward domestic roles.

Masham’s intellect flourished in her complex relationship with John Locke, who mentored her and lived in her household later in life. Balancing her obligations as a caretaker and philosopher, Masham critiqued male thinkers who disregarded women’s potential. Her writings emphasized love—starting in maternal bonds—as central to humanity’s moral and philosophical development.

Her experience spoke to Penaluna’s struggles balancing her own intellectual ambitions and personal life. Masham’s Occasional Thoughts urged society to remove barriers to women’s education and autonomy, suggesting that true intellectual freedom requires restructuring society.

Examples

• Masham’s correspondence with Locke sparked philosophical inquiry.
• She critiqued Malebranche’s theories, defending mothers from blame for "monstrous" births.
• Her work advocated equal education opportunities for boys and girls.

4. Mary Wollstonecraft Demanded Equality

Mary Wollstonecraft, perhaps the most iconic figure of early feminism, combined fiery rhetoric with personal authenticity. Her seminal work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, made the case that women are rational beings deserving equality in all spheres of life, from education to politics.

Raised in a turbulent household, Wollstonecraft rejected societal norms that confined women to domesticity. Her struggles as a working writer and single mother fuelled her feminist philosophy. Wollstonecraft railed against Rousseau’s ideas that women existed only to serve men’s desires and called for systemic changes to overcome these oppressions.

Penaluna admired Wollstonecraft’s ability to articulate the tension between personal desires and philosophical ideals. Wollstonecraft depicted the emotional challenges of being a “thinking woman,” and Penaluna found a sense of shared struggle through her writings.

Examples

• Wollstonecraft critiqued Rousseau’s claims about women’s inferiority.
• Her writings reflected her defiance of marriage norms, prioritizing intellectual freedom.
• Penaluna related to Wollstonecraft’s depiction of self-doubt and anger in the face of exclusion.

5. Catharine Cockburn’s Letters Explored Motherhood and Philosophy

Catharine Cockburn wrote extensively while also raising children, grappling with the tension between intellectual freedom and the demands of family life. Her writings reveal that a mother’s identity need not subsume her intellectual pursuits.

Cockburn’s personal letters often highlight her philosophical engagement even during her years of domestic dedication. For example, she wrote to her niece about pursuing intellectual challenges and advised her son to treat women as equals. Her plays and novels also offered critiques of rigid gender roles, promoting the intellectual worth of all women.

Penaluna found inspiration in Cockburn’s multi-faceted life. By embracing her roles as mother, writer, and philosopher, Cockburn demonstrated the possibility of philosophical inquiry shaped by lived experience.

Examples

• Cockburn’s Love at a Loss examined gender norms through storytelling.
• In her thought-provoking advice to her son, she promoted egalitarian relationships.
• Cockburn’s letters to female peers explored the shared struggles of their time.

6. Patriarchal Ideas Weren’t Just External

As Penaluna delved into these women’s works, she recognized internalized sexism in her own thinking. Inspired by their bravery in questioning norms, she began dismantling assumptions she had absorbed growing up in a male-dominated academic field.

Many philosophers, while progressive in some ways, clung to sexist ideas. Women marginalized by such thinking often internalized self-doubt about their intellectual worth. Penaluna’s realization reflected Wollstonecraft’s and Astell’s calls for ongoing self-awareness and mutual encouragement among women.

Examples

• Wollstonecraft addressed internalized inferiority in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.
• Masham confessed to Locke that childcare dulled her intellectual focus yet pushed back against disapproval.
• Penaluna reevaluated her own biases after engaging with Astell’s perspective.

7. Philosophy Must Include Diverse Perspectives

Penaluna argues that philosophy’s exclusion of women hasn't only harmed individual thinkers—it has stunted the field’s growth. Women’s experiences, often rooted in daily struggles such as motherhood and discrimination, offer valuable insights into complex human questions.

The male-dominated tradition has often dismissed these contributions, yet works like Wollstonecraft’s Maria and Cockburn’s plays expand philosophy by blending emotional depth with rigorous reasoning. Penaluna emphasizes integrating neglected voices to create a richer intellectual tradition.

Examples

• Cockburn linked love and morality through her maternal lens.
• Wollstonecraft explored societal constraints in both essays and fiction.
• Penaluna’s personal challenges mirrored dilemmas posed by these predecessors.

8. Resistance Requires Rejecting Gatekeepers

Traditional philosophy often upholds barriers for women to maintain a male-dominated canon. Penaluna urges women to create their own intellectual spaces and networks rather than seeking approval in hostile environments.

Mary Astell’s proposal for female colleges and Masham’s idea of raising thinking children exemplify productive alternatives to seeking validation from male establishments. These efforts remind us that progress often requires developing new systems rather than trying to mend entrenched ones.

Examples

• Astell’s feminist-inspired education plans predated women’s colleges.
• Wollstonecraft lived independently to redefine gender-normalized success.
• Penaluna built a supportive community of colleagues inspired by feminist thought.

9. Feminist Philosophy Is Personal Philosophy

At its core, feminist philosophy doesn’t seek abstraction but aims to unite intellectual inquiry with lived experience. Penaluna’s insight is that personal struggles—from balancing love and work to overcoming motherhood’s demands—carry universal relevance.

This approach links thinkers across time. Penaluna learned that the most enduring works, like Wollstonecraft’s and Cockburn’s, illuminated the raw, personal dilemmas faced by their creators. Thinking like a woman means resisting abstraction that ignores real-world implications.

Examples

• Cockburn navigated philosophy through practical, everyday life concerns.
• Wollstonecraft’s feminism arose from personal traumas and triumphs.
• Penaluna applied philosophical breakthroughs to leave a harmful marriage.

Takeaways

1. Explore lesser-known thinkers from marginalized backgrounds to enrich intellectual exploration and self-awareness.
2. Reflect on personal struggles as valuable sources of insight, linking philosophy with real-life dilemmas.
3. Build communities of like-minded individuals for mutual support and to reshape systems resistant to change.