Ubaid Khan

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Euh 2030

The Subjection of Women

During the middle of the nineteenth century, new forms of thoughts evolved. Among these ideologies was liberalism. Humans, with their rational minds, could comprehend things and could improve themselves and society through rational and systematic action. Liberalism emphasized on the correlation between one improving and society as a whole improving. In The Subjection of Women, John Stuart Mill discusses the principles of nineteenth century liberalism and the inequality of women in society. Mill exemplifies principles of nineteenth century liberalism by exploiting the nature of intelligence, justice, and the correlation between women and society as a whole.

John Stuart Mill was considered to be ahead of his time, since he adopted some very progressive views for his time period, such as women's suffrage. Mill believed that women and men had the same mental capabilities, yet women were not known for writing, in the field of science, or in the field of politics. He suggests that this difference is a result of lack of opportunity for women, and acts such as separate spheres. An attempt to abolish this inequality would be an act of Liberalism. He claims that this is not because of physical differences between men and women, rather a lack of opportunity given to women. "…It is acknowledged that even a few women may be fit for these [political] duties, the laws which shut the doors on those exceptions cannot be justified by any opinion which can be held respecting the capacities of women in general"(Mill, 53). This inequality was upheld by a concept known as separate spheres. This idea existed among the middle class, not as a law or an event. Separate spheres stated that men and women both have separate places that are best suited to them. Men were to go out to work and make money. Women, on the other hand, were to act as a nurturing force. Mill claims that this nurturing force was a form of intelligence. It may have been a different form of intelligence, but it took effort. Roles of women could be compared to that of a General of a military. They would have to control their servants, wake up on time, and dress nice. This idea may be considered to be double edges in that women may have wanted to makes their task seem easy. "…Any of the mental differences [that are] supposed to exist between women and men are but the natural effect of the difference in their education and circumstances, and indicate no radical difference, far less radical inferiority, of nature"(Mill, 53). During this era, women were thought to be less intelligent because they did not excel in science, or politics, but they were good at their everyday duties. Observers may have seen that women were less intelligent upon a surface observation, but women were simply not given the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities in the same fields as men. Mill argues that men don’t necessarily have more mental capabilities, rather their brains are used in different fields. Liberalism urges society to educate its citizens. Mill exemplifies liberalism ideas by demonstrating that women too are intelligent in their own fields.

John Mill exploits the nature of justice and how justice correlates with liberalism. Liberalism pushed for liberty and equality among its entire people. Mill believed that justice for women would improve society as a whole. Would mankind as a whole be better off if women were free and treated as equally to men? "If not, why disturb their minds," Mill suggests. "[This] inequality has no just or legitimate defense"(Mill, 79). Imagine when a little boy is born. He takes in his very first lump of Oxygen. At birth, his capabilities have yet to be determined, but he is already considered to be superior to half of the human race. He can be the most foolish person in the world yet society, during this era, would consider him better than half of its total population. At birth, this child is already better than his creator, his mother. According to Mill, this way of life did not exemplify justice. This division would create boundaries and so would deny equality. Liberalism did not uphold inequality. Mill pleas for this barrier to be eliminated.

John Mill emphasized on how the world as a whole would improve if society were to encourage equality among men and women. Couples in marriages would be better off through similar understanding of the world, and women interaction in society would soften all of mankind. The word "liberalism" comes from the Latin root "liber," which means free. Nineteenth century liberalism is characterized by a focus on individual liberties. According to Mill, if women were presented to liberalism ideas such as an education, society in its entirety would be better off. Mill argues that through liberalism husbands would come home to smarter wives. "In this way, the widening of the sphere of action for women would operate for good, by raising their education to the level of that of men, and making the one participate in all improvements made in the other"(Mill, 83). In marriages, she would understand him and comfort him more if she can understand the nature of the world they live in. Prior to this era marriage was thought to be like a contract; the man would provide the household with money and in return the women would maintain the house. Women made up about half of the world’s population. The interaction of women in the harsh, male dominated world would soften and ease cruelty and violence. "The influence of women counts for a great deal in two of the most marked features of modern European life-its aversion to war, and its addiction to philanthropy"(Mill, 87). If women were treated equally as men, the entire world would be tremendously better off. If women were brought up by liberalism ideas, they would be able to equally understand business, public affairs, and would be able to speculate. Husbands would come home to a wife that is reasonable and can perceive the world as he does. Ultimately, the entire world would be a happier place. Mill argues that by improving individuals, society as a whole will improve. Liberalism suggests that humans could improve themselves through rational ideas and could improve society through systematic and rational action. Mill exemplifies principles of liberalism by displaying the correlation between women and society as a whole.

In The Subjection of Women, John Stuart Mill discusses the principles of nineteenth century liberalism and the inequality of women among mankind. Mill exemplifies liberalism ideas among women. He describes how women are capable of being as intelligent as men but lack the opportunity, bringing justice for women would be a liberal thing to do, and how society as a whole would improve if women were given the chance to be equal to their male companion. A wise artist once said, "today is a sum of all yesterdays." Liberalism ideas were not developed over night. They were derived over time drawing from Enlightenment ideas, and lessons learned during the French and the Industrial Revolution. Liberalism pushed for free-market economic policies, free trade, competition, and perceived individual initiative as the key to success. Santayana, a philosopher at Harvard University, once said, "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it."