The first essay on the political rights of women

The opening presents a faithful translation of the Marquis de Condorcet’s 1789 essay arguing for women’s admission to citizenship. In crisp Enlightenment language, he challenges the paradox of extending rights to strangers, laborers and the illiterate while denying the same to half of the population. He frames the denial as a product of habit rather than reason, inviting readers to reconsider what natural rights truly entail. The passage sets a clear, philosophical foundation for the fight over political equality.

A later preface by activist Alice Vickery links Condorcet’s ideas to the nineteenth‑century suffrage movement, noting how slowly legal reforms have progressed. She describes the entrenched pride of sex that keeps women divided by marital status and class, and she calls for a single, inclusive organization that represents all women across the United Kingdom. Vickery’s urgent tone reminds listeners that the arguments made over two centuries ago still echo in today’s debates on representation. The essay and its commentary together offer a concise, thought‑provoking glimpse into the early intellectual roots of feminism.