The Subjection of Women and Slavery Essay - 1201 Words

In this first unit, one of the readings that really caught my attention was John Stuart Mill’s The Subjection of Women. In his essay, Mill’s presents a very compelling argument that the subordination of one sex to another is wrong and that there should be instead, perfect equality amongst the sexes. Having previously studied about gender inequality issues from another class, I have a broad understanding of how and why gender inequality has been perpetuated through various historical, political, and social contexts. Incorporating this knowledge as well as information learned through the readings and lectures, I hope to share my thoughts on the subjection of women and its relationship to slavery in this personal response paper. As an†¦show more content†¦Women were always seen as being inferior or â€Å"weak† to men; that they couldn’t do the same things men did because they lacked the physical strength to do so. Because women were physically inferi or, it became easy to oppress them due to this difference in power. Throughout history, women were â€Å"conditioned† to believe that it was their duty to be obedient to men. That it was their â€Å"nature to live for others†¦.and to have no life but their [men’s] affections† (Mill, 1995, pg.16). Thus, it seemed natural that women were to be subservient to the needs of the men in their lives. They gave up their lives in order to serve and be accepted by them. Mill, however, claims that this was not the case. The subjection of women was not brought upon by natural development, but rather, through customary power relationships that went on to become institutionalized in the same way that slavery was. Although the subjection of women arose the same way as slavery and other forms of oppression, it differs from the fact that it does not occur by the rule of force but rather, by voluntary acceptance (Mill, 1995, pg.16). As mentioned earlier, women were â€Å"conditioned† to believe that it was their duty to be obedient to men; that it was natural to live their lives for them. In a way, a woman’s obedience to manShow MoreRelated John Stewarat Mills On Liberty and the Subjection of Women Essay995 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Stewarat Mills On Liberty and the Subjection of Women Born in 1806, John Stewart Mill was an English philosopher who highly prized the Utilitarian belief system, or the doctrine of seeking the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people. Among his various political treatises, On Liberty and The Subjection of Women are excellent applications of his convictions in individualism and negative government. Though the subjects of each work differ to an extent, both are written inRead MoreJohn Stuart Mills Analysis Of The Oppression Of Women947 Words   |  4 Pages The Subjection of Women looks at the society and its struggles in adjusting to an environment where women are treated equally. John Stuart Mill’s approach to changing society comes from the viewpoint that after many years of submission and discrimination, women should be treated equally. This conclusion comes from a reflection on past classes of people that were similarly oppressed. Mill looks at similar situations throughout history where one certain group was dominant over another submissive groupRead MoreEssay on Remember the Ladies Abigail Adams Analysis965 Words   |  4 Pagesgiven all the power. If the ladies are paid no attention it was bound to inspire a rebellion against this tyrant like behavior. If women have no voice, they will not be happy. If men need the title of master women will act differently than if they called themselves their wives’ friend. All these ideas are voiced in the letter she wrote. John expressed his ideas about women and how he thinks they should not vote in the new government. Both made valid points. Reactions, Connections, Thoughts, Feelings: Read MoreThe Subjection Of Women By John Stuart Mill1724 Words   |  7 PagesVictorian era took place in England, â€Å"The Subjection of Women† is a critical piece of analysis in regards to the status of women in society and their unequal relationship with the opposite sex. During Mill s lifetime, women were considered to be inferior to men by custom and laws, and therefore, they were expected to be submissive in nature. Deeply influenced by the ideas of his wife Harriet Taylor Mill, and John Stuart Mill’s own beliefs, â€Å"The Subjection of Women† was published in 1869, becoming a pieceRead More A Dolls House Essay1148 Words   |  5 Pagesrelate to them. He particularly questioned the role of men and women during his time. Ibsen used A Doll House to motivate women so they would seek more power and freedom in their relationships. Audiences could then look up to characters such as Nora and Mrs Linde whom were independent, some what ahead of their times. Ibsen’s purpose was to not only to enlighten women of their unfair status but also to make the men understand women are much smarter than what they think. His goal was to changeRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill : An Influential Philosopher Of The 19th Century1252 Words   |  6 PagesReview†; and throughout his success Harriet Taylor was his wife for 20 years before she died. As a writer he was very successful some of his main works include On Liberty (1859), Utilitarianism (1861), Three Essays on Religion (1874), and Subjection of Women (1869). After his wife Harriet died he wrote On Liberty in her memory as well using some of her tips. On Liberty was an attack on leveling effects of social and public opinion. He ultimately embraces a â€Å"simple principle† of liberty as a meansRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill s Women1002 Words   |  5 Pagessurprising to me, a feminist. He believed that the common notion that women are inferior to men â€Å"ought to be replaced by a principle of perfect equality, admitting no power or privilege on the one side, nor disability on the other.† This principle is definitely something I can stand behind, and I have to say I was overjoyed to read Mill’s The Subjection of Women. While discussing feminism, it is important to discuss why equal rights to women are so important. Although most of John Stuart Mill’s argumentsRead MoreSex Slavery Essay976 Words   |  4 PagesSex slavery is an abusive weapon of power that has lasted thousands of years. It is a form of slavery that limits the victims autonomy, mobility, and power in regards to their own sexual activity. As we progress through time, we see a relationship between sex slavery and slaves brought to the Americas during the Transatlantic slave trade. When the trade was banned in 1808, slave owners wanted to ensure their slave labor in any way possible, and they came to the idea of extending the descendantsRead MoreAristotles Theory of Slavery1295 Words   |  6 PagesSome aspects of Aristotles theory of slavery Slavery -- natural or conventional? Aristoles theory of slavery is found in Book I, Chapters iii through vii of the Politics. and in Book VII of the Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle raises the question of whether slavery is natural or conventional. He asserts that the former is the case. So, Aristotles theory of slavery holds that some people are naturally slaves and others are naturally masters. Thus he says: But is there any one thus intendedRead MoreHuman Trafficking Has Been Existent For Thousands Of Years983 Words   |  4 PagesIn 1863, the United States enacted laws that formally abolished slavery. However, modern day manifestation of slavery still exists; it is called â€Å"human trafficking.† Human trafficking, according to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 is â€Å"trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for