The Subjection of Women

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Gutenberg ID

—

Title

The Subjection of Women

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

John Stuart Mill's seminal 1869 essay challenges the legal and social subordination of women, arguing that the principle of male dominance is a fundamental hindrance to human progress. Mill contends that women's disabilities stem from custom rather than nature, urging a shift toward perfect equality to unlock the full potential of half the human race.

Summary up to 500 words

In 'The Subjection of Women,' John Stuart Mill systematically dismantles the argument for female inferiority, asserting that the legal subordination of women is a barbaric relic of the 'law of the strongest' rather than a rational social arrangement. Mill argues that the principle regulating relations between the sexes—the legal subordination of one to the other—is wrong itself and must be replaced by a principle of perfect equality, admitting no power or privilege on the one side nor disability on the other. He posits that the difficulty in changing this status quo lies not in a lack of logical grounds, but in the intense feelings and deep-rooted customs protecting the institution. Mill rejects the notion that women are inherently unfit for public life, noting that the only occupations excluded from women are those they have already proven capable of performing, such as ruling nations. He highlights that while few women have held high office, those who have, like Queen Elizabeth or Queen Victoria, demonstrated talents for rule equal to or exceeding the most mediocre men. Mill further argues that denying women the right to vote or hold office is unjust, as it deprives society of their services and stifles their own happiness. He emphasizes that liberty is essential for the development of the intellect and moral character, and that restricting women to domestic roles denies them the 'inspiriting and elevating' effects of free government. The essay concludes that the subjection of women is not only an injustice to women but a detriment to men and society as a whole, as it wastes the talents of half the population and perpetuates a system based on force rather than justice. Mill contends that the authority of men over women rests upon theory only, as there has never been a trial of any other system. He argues that the dependence of women is not an original institution grounded in justice, but the primitive state of slavery lasting on through successive mitigations. He asserts that the law of the strongest seems to be entirely abandoned in advanced nations, yet the inequality of rights between men and women persists solely because it arose from the fact that women were found in a state of bondage due to their inferiority in muscular strength and the value attached to them by men. Mill insists that the only things existing law excludes women from doing are the things which they have proved that they are able to do, citing the examples of queens and regents who have shown firmness and vigour in rule. He concludes that the desire for power over others is a depraving agency that can only cease when each individual is able to do without it, a state achievable only where respect for liberty in personal concerns is an established principle.

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Categories

• Classics
• Philosophy
• Politics
• Essays
• Women's Rights
• Social Sciences