Summary of the subjection of women. The Subjection of Women Chapter 4 Summary & Analysis 2022-10-13

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The Subjection of Women is an essay written by John Stuart Mill in 1869, in which he argues for the equality of women and men. Mill contends that the unequal treatment of women is a form of injustice and that men and women should be treated as equals.

In the essay, Mill examines the historical and cultural foundations of the subordination of women. He argues that the subordination of women is not a natural or inevitable phenomenon, but rather the result of social and cultural conditioning. Mill asserts that women have been traditionally relegated to a secondary role in society, with men being seen as the superior gender. This view, he argues, is not only unjust, but also detrimental to both men and women.

Mill contends that the unequal treatment of women is based on a number of false assumptions and stereotypes about the inherent differences between the sexes. He argues that these stereotypes are not supported by scientific evidence and that they serve only to justify the unequal treatment of women. Mill maintains that the only way to achieve true equality between the sexes is to eliminate these stereotypes and to recognize that men and women are fundamentally equal.

Mill also addresses the issue of women's suffrage, arguing that women should have the right to vote and to participate in the political process. He asserts that the exclusion of women from the political process is a further example of the unjust treatment of women and that it is necessary to extend the right to vote to women in order to truly achieve equality.

Overall, The Subjection of Women is a powerful and persuasive argument for the equality of men and women. Mill's ideas have had a significant impact on the feminist movement and continue to be relevant and influential today.

In Broad Daylight by Ha Jin is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that explores the complex dynamics of power, corruption, and justice in a small Chinese village during the Cultural Revolution.

The story follows the lives of two main characters: Ning, a schoolteacher who becomes embroiled in a power struggle with the local party secretary, and Shuyu, Ning's wife, who is caught between her loyalty to her husband and her fear of the party's retribution. Through these characters, Ha Jin deftly illustrates the ways in which the Cultural Revolution's ideology of revolution and class struggle was used to justify violence and abuse of power, as well as the ways in which individuals were forced to navigate the treacherous waters of political loyalty and personal morality.

One of the key themes of the novel is the corrupting influence of power. The party secretary, Lao Li, is a ruthless and cunning man who will stop at nothing to maintain his position of authority, even if it means resorting to threats, intimidation, and violence. Ning, on the other hand, is a principled and honest man who refuses to bow to Lao Li's demands, even when it puts him and his family in danger. As the conflict between the two men escalates, it becomes clear that Lao Li's power is not derived from his leadership or moral character, but rather from his ability to manipulate the system and use fear and intimidation to silence his opponents.

Another theme that emerges in the novel is the role of justice in a society where the rule of law is subverted by those in power. Ning's struggle to bring Lao Li to justice is a poignant reminder of the importance of due process and the rule of law in upholding a just society. However, Ha Jin also highlights the ways in which the legal system can be used to protect the powerful and punish the weak, as Ning's efforts to seek justice are repeatedly thwarted by the corruption and bias of the local authorities.

Ultimately, In Broad Daylight is a powerful and poignant exploration of the ways in which power and corruption can corrupt even the most well-intentioned individuals. Ha Jin's vivid and nuanced portrayal of the characters and their struggles is a testament to his skill as a writer, and the novel serves as a thought-provoking and timely reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of upholding justice and the rule of law.

The Subjection of Women by John Stuart Mill

summary of the subjection of women

His book understandably ruffled some feathers because he was criticizing a core component of Victorian society: the cult of domesticity, which confined female gender roles to the household. Mill states that physical strength and violence should not be tolerated in the matter of male domination over women. If praise is not accompanied by respectful behavior, Mill implies, then it should not be taking at face value. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. Even noblemen can do little to ensure that inheritance is passed to his daughter rather than his son-in-law.

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The Subjection of Women Plot Summary

summary of the subjection of women

The person who is most experienced, who is most intelligent, and who brings the most resources to a task should take charge of it. If you wish to make something illegal, you need to prove what harm is being done. Just as a slave is fearful of displeasing his master because the master is the only way the slave gets fed and clothed, a wife is also fearful of displeasing her husband because her husband is her only means of food, shelter, and social status. He thinks that under certain circumstances, it is acceptable for people to wield power and authority over others—but they must prove themselves worthy of this power. The second is the date of publication online or last modification online.


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The Subjection of Women Chapter 2 Summary

summary of the subjection of women

He compares marriage to bondage and yes, slavery. Of human beings "we know. A system of punishment is in place to deter people from committing wrongs. In such a deeply hierarchical world, morality revolves around submitting to power. Firstly, this is not actually true; ever since women have been allowed to publish writing, they have expressed dissatisfaction with their oppression.

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Summary Of "The Subjection Of Women" By Mill, Sample of Essays

summary of the subjection of women

Furthermore, it is an ironic and unfortunate reality that oppressed people including the enslaved often exhibit strong loyalty to those who mistreat them. He argued that men should accept gender equality as it would be an overall benefit to society. We can't stop women from trying things because they might not be able to do them. Royal women are the only class of women permitted to take an interest in topics like politics and have proved themselves highly competent. He argues that brain size does not determine intelligence by citing the example of whales.

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The Subjection of Women Chapter 4 Summary

summary of the subjection of women

He assumes certain stereotypes are correct- such as the temperament of women- and accepts broad generalization. This paper defines religion, morality and evil, and explains how religion and morality are. This means that he is both conservative and liberal at the same time, because he appreciates the value of the enfranchisement he uses, but he observes that technically, it is only superstition and archaic points of view that perpetuate the myth that women are inferior. They have significantly helped the spread of Christianity. Mill compares, the domination of men over women to the slavery, which is nothing more than the display or physical power. He also looks at contemporary science and the interpretation of a woman's brain being smaller.

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John Stuart Mill's The Subjection of Women: Summary & Analysis

summary of the subjection of women

At the same time, the broader points expressed in this paragraph—notably about how gender oppression drives men and women apart, preventing the pleasures of unity—are significant. Socioeconomic disparities and issues like unconscious bias arguably make it difficult to make a selection process truly fair. Again, it is not entirely true from a historical perspective that at the time Mill is writing, all roles are obtained via meritocratic competitions. Thus, Mill showed that granting women individual rights did in fact serve the good of society. Finally, each individual woman will find greater personal happiness in the increase of their freedom. Married women were essentially property and their husbands controlled their ability to make decisions. But if I could somehow contrive to keep the purse from him, would I still be obliged in conscience to surrender it? Even when serfs fought for better rights, they did not make the case that they were equal to those ranked above them.

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The Subjection of Women Chapter 4 Summary & Analysis

summary of the subjection of women

Women can participate in determining their own affairs too. The question of who should be allowed to vote is in some ways separate from that of who should be allowed to hold political office. This is because the present relation between men and women encourages and sustains negative moral characteristics in men, such as being entitled, selfish, and conceited. After all, the pistol in the robber's hand is undoubtedly a power. Christianity upheld this view in theory, but for many centuries, it was not properly implemented in Christian societies.

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The Subjection of Women Analysis

summary of the subjection of women

Once married, husbands held absolute power over their wives, who in turn had no rights of their own. Again, it might seem strange that Mill is taking stereotypes about women being pragmatic, nervous, and fragile so seriously. He says that this assumption has no supporting evidence because men have never allowed women to have a fair shot and try things to see how good they really are. Another advantage is that by folding women into the available workforce, society would be effectively doubling its supply of competent citizens. While such a sentiment might seem abhorrent from a contemporary perspective, at the time it was believed that existing within elite society and receiving a thorough education were essential to acting ethically.


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The Subjection of Women Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

summary of the subjection of women

The existence of tyranny within the family is a major social problem just like political tyranny. In the modern world, people are starkly disconnected from what the primitive version of human society was like. These changes were spurred on by rapid industrialization which resulted in more women in the workplace. Mill indeed was a man of true equality John Stuart Mill Utilitarianism Henceforth; it is uneccessarry to follow blindly the institutions of this path. It is much more reasonable to imagine older women of 40 or 50—who have gained important life experience by raising families—taking political office. Mill mocks this objection claiming, "every established fact which is too bad to admit of any other defense, is always presented to us as an injunction of religion. In conclusion, the views of Mill that have been discussed thus far in class include Mills views on nature verses nurture, women in the Victorian Era, representative democracy, tyranny of the majority, voucher system, middle class and inheritance as well as my opinions on some of these… Mill vs Dworkin "I forego any advantage which could be derived to my argument from the idea of abstract right as a thing independent of utility.


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The Subjection of Women

summary of the subjection of women

One reason for why gender inequality has survived so long is because it gives an opportunity for all men—regardless of their class—to have power over women. In the ancient world, there was an understanding that equality was essential to justice, but only free men were considered equal to one another; women, slaves, and other minoritized groups remained subjugated. He continues by arguing that women will be able to do by their nature whatever nature intended for them to be able to do. In many ways, Mill is more concerned with how society should be governed than how individuals should behave. Mill indeed was a man of true equality between the sexes. Democracy is a form of self-dependence. Cite this page as follows: "The Subjection of Women - Analysis" eNotes Publishing Ed.

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