Rachel Speght - 17th Century Feminist
Rachel Speght wrote A Mouzell for Melastomus in 1617 and Mortalities Memorandum, both religious defenses of women's rights based on interpretation of scripture. Although there were a few other feminist writings of the time, Rachel Speght was the first feminist to write in English under her own name.
Books - Rachel Speght, Early Feminist
Rachel Speght was the first woman known to have published a women's rights pamphlet in English under her own name. Here are some works by or about Rachel Speght and her writings.
Rachel Speght was the first woman known to have published a women's rights pamphlet in English under her own name. Here are some works by or about Rachel Speght and her writings.
From "The Dreame"
An excerpt from Rachel Speght, focusing on the "griefe" called ignorance, written in poetry.
An excerpt from Rachel Speght, focusing on the "griefe" called ignorance, written in poetry.
"Lawfull Avarice": Rachel Speght's Mortalities Memorandum ...
... and the necessity of women's education: an article by Linda Vecchi. A scholarly article on Rachel Speght's writing, focusing on the issue of education for women and the situation of a woman whose vocation is as a writer in a world in which writing is not among women's typical roles. (PDF)
... and the necessity of women's education: an article by Linda Vecchi. A scholarly article on Rachel Speght's writing, focusing on the issue of education for women and the situation of a woman whose vocation is as a writer in a world in which writing is not among women's typical roles. (PDF)
Mortalities Memorandum
An e-text transcribed from the British Museum copy of Rachel Speght's 1621 Mortalities Memorandum.
An e-text transcribed from the British Museum copy of Rachel Speght's 1621 Mortalities Memorandum.
A Mouzell for Melastomus
From "Sunshine for Women," a copy of the pamphlet A Mouzell for Melastomus published in 1617 by Rachel Speght, and which is the first known women's rights writing in English published under the author's own name.
From "Sunshine for Women," a copy of the pamphlet A Mouzell for Melastomus published in 1617 by Rachel Speght, and which is the first known women's rights writing in English published under the author's own name.
A Mouzell for Melastomus (1617)
An e-text transcribed from the Harvard College Library copy of Rachel Speght's 1617 Mortalities Memorandum.
An e-text transcribed from the Harvard College Library copy of Rachel Speght's 1617 Mortalities Memorandum.
Rachel Speght
Also from "Sunshine for Women," some comments on Rachel Speght's life and her work, A Mouzell for Melastomus.
Also from "Sunshine for Women," some comments on Rachel Speght's life and her work, A Mouzell for Melastomus.
Rachel Speght
Article on Rachel Speght and her writings, from "Sunshine for Women." Includes a few footnotes.
Article on Rachel Speght and her writings, from "Sunshine for Women." Includes a few footnotes.