The Subjection of Women, gave me chill bumps as I read it, maybe its because I have not heard a man express his interpretation of women on paper in such a well organized, admirable and motivational manner. The fact that Mill compares the subjection of women to the oppression of slaves is a leveling ground. He then explains that the oppression of both divisions were unjust but on a logical level it not fair no logical to claim oppression of two groups that are both alike and have equal representation intellectually as their oppressors. Mill then touches on the subject of social and religious oppression. I liked that fact that he emphasized that woman were just as equal as men who treated them as if they were their masters. Yet, tradition has repeated itself over and over again that the role of women is under a man and within her place.
The reading is well organized. The fact that Wilde represents this belief as a timeline in history through his references, he proves that there has been a tradition of the subjection of woman that has not been justifiable. It seems as if Wilde has studied woman as his life’s profession because he even understands that every woman is not the same and this is what makes the woman race interesting. Every woman has quality and quantity however each has something unique to her that gives her the essence to contribute to man. However I believe that Wilde understands in order to understand this essence and truly stand equally with women, men should not subject women. To fully understand a woman’s equality to that of a man, men must put away their pride and their notions of superiority to truly level with women.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Enjoyed your post. I too find it shocking that a man could write so passionately in support of women--very admirable. There was definitely a lot of truth to his words.
ReplyDeleteSimone,
ReplyDeleteI agree that Mill's argument and ideas are very striking and modern, and all the more surprising for when he wrote them. Some good generalizations about the text here, but little textual support in the form of quotations or specific examples. You begin calling Mill Wilde in the second paragraph, which does not help your credibility as a commentator on the author!
Good points, I found that Mill put together a very strong argument backing it up with similar examples of such unjust laws. He did have a surprisingly good insight into the women's feelings and behaviours that could perspire if they were not so tied to their husbands. I think Mill had a very good understanding of the injustice of the silence of women and in this work prepared a well-structured essay to fight for their rights.
ReplyDeleteI guess we women are more particial to this particular subject because we can certainly relate to the topic. I agree with you that it is unreal that a male can focus on the wrongs of women and put them down in writig so delicately. When I read his biography though, I truly wondered if he was doing it just to win the heart of a woman or if he truly lived his life to help correct the wrongs.
ReplyDelete