Final answer:
c) The essay will analyze the societal changes experienced by women from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment. The evolution of women's roles from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment shows a trajectory of gradual change, from limited opportunities to increased intellectual engagement, albeit with societal constraints. Notable Renaissance women artists succeeded due to specific circumstances, while the Enlightenment saw elite women influencing intellectual debates and Mary Wollstonecraft advocating for women's rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of women has evolved significantly from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment. During the Renaissance, opportunities for women were limited, but the era did see some notable women artists such as Catherine de Vigri succeeding due to convent life or familial support. The period championed humanism, leading to advancements in art and a burgeoning middle class.
By the Enlightenment, intellectual debates were rich with contributions from elite women like Émilie du Châtelet and Germaine de Staël. However, despite the era's focus on equality and freedom, many Enlightenment thinkers, including Rousseau, still viewed women as subordinate. Conversely, John Locke and others supported women's right to education and public participation, albeit within certain constraints. Mary Wollstonecraft emerged as a significant figure, advocating for women's rights in society and is now recognized as an early feminist thinker.
In comparison to other periods, such as the Athenian Age of Pericles, the role of women in the Enlightenment was more intellectually engaged though still constrained by societal norms. The contrast between these periods demonstrates a trajectory of gradual change in the status and roles of women over time.