property of women

Reading Mary Wollstoncraft's, Maria or The Wrongs of Women and I was thinking about the laws that existed at the time for women during the 18th century- i.e. once married a women belonged entirely o her husband as property. It says in the book's introduction that it wasn't until 100 years later that these laws have changed and women are now free....I can't help but completely argue against this theory. It seems like the laws that were placed on women at the time have only transferred from their husbands to the government and state. Our bodies are constantly up for debate- right now there is a woman in Texas being used as an incubator only because she's pregnant- yet dying. How is this any different? I see my parents trying to get land permits to build on their property and they won't speak to my mother because the contractors see the land as my fathers.

As for labor, this is a good quotation from the story:

As Jemima comments, "How often have I heard in conversation, and read in books, that every person willing to work may find employment? It is the vague assertion, I believe, of insensible indolence, when it relates to men; but, with respect to women, I am sure of its fallacy, unless they will submit to the most menial bodily labour; and even to be employed at hard labour is out of the reach of many, whose reputation misfortune or folly has tainted." (64)

I believe this can be applied to more than just women in todays world.

"A Brief Summary in Plain Language of the Most Important Laws Concerning Women; Together with a Few Observations Thereon", Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon, London 1854 :

A man and wife are one person in law; the wife loses all her rights as a single woman, and her existence is entirely absorbed in that of her husband. He is civilly responsible for her acts; she lives under his protection or cover, and her condition is called coverture. 

A woman's body belongs to her husband; she is in his custody, and can enforce his right by a writ of habeas corpus.

What was her personal property before marriage, such as money in hand, money at the bank, jewels, household goods, clothes, etc., becomes absolutely her husband's, and he may assign or dispose of them at his pleaure whether he and his wife live together or not...(ecclesiastical law)

The legal custody of children belongs to the father. During the life-time of a sane father, the mother has no rights over her children, except a limited power over infants [while she is breast-feeding them], and the father may take them from her and dispose of them as he thinks fit.