"To what derision should I be exposed from a thousand quarters!- An unlearned female entering the lists of criticism against the mighty Johnson!"

This quote by Anne Seward speaks with the challenges dealt with by ladies in the 18th century, especially in the world of intellectual pursuits. Seward is expressing her fear of being ridiculed for daring to challenge the fantastic literary figure, Dr. Samuel Johnson. She acknowledges her lack of formal education and her gender as possible sources of derision from her peers. Seward's quote is a testimony to the struggles faced by females in the 18th century, who were typically denied access to education and the opportunity to take part in intellectual discourse. Seward's quote is a pointer of the value of acknowledging the accomplishments of females in the past and the need to continue to strive for gender equality in today.