A serious proposal to the ladies: For the advancement of their true and greatest interest

A Serious Proposal to the Ladies by Mary Astell is a pioneering feminist work advocating for women's education and intellectual empowerment. Astell argues that women should have access to learning to cultivate reason and virtue, challenging the limited roles imposed by society. She proposes the establishment of a women’s college as a means of liberation through knowledge. Her work laid the groundwork for later feminist thought, earning her recognition as one of the first English feminists.