The Subjection of Women

by

John Stuart Mill

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Themes and Colors
Liberalism and Women’s Rights Theme Icon
Gender Equality for the Greater Good Theme Icon
Biological vs. Social Understandings of Gender Theme Icon
Intelligence, Reason, and Debate Theme Icon
Womanhood as Slavery Theme Icon
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Subjection of Women, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.

Liberalism and Women’s Rights

John Stuart Mill is one of the most significant figures in the history of classical liberal thought, and the argument he makes about women’s rights in The Subjection of Women is deeply rooted in liberal values of freedom, individualism, choice, and consent. Mill denounces the restrictions placed on women’s freedom and argues that gender equality is essential to modern liberal democracy. He successfully proves that liberalism must include women’s rights by arguing that it is…

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Gender Equality for the Greater Good

In The Subjection of Women, Mill gives several reasons why it is inherently wrong to oppress women, but he also gives a utilitarian argument for gender equality, meaning that he makes a case as to why enhancing women’s rights will benefit society as a whole. This means that it is not only in the interest of women to support gender equality, but of men too. Through focusing on the broader benefits to society that…

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Biological vs. Social Understandings of Gender

In The Subjection of Women, Mill argues that many of the characteristics people claim are a biologically essential part of being female may actually be generated by social conditions. He dismisses the ideas that “feminine” characteristics such as submissiveness, fragility, tenderness, and self-sacrifice have their roots in biology. Distinguishing between the biological and social differences that exist between men and women is a fraught topic within the entire history of the fight for gender…

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Intelligence, Reason, and Debate

Although The Subjection of Women covers the issue of women’s rights in general, Mill is particularly interested in the issues of women’s intellect and rational capacity. He notes that women are intelligent and reasonable enough to advocate for themselves, but because they are often prevented from advocating for themselves in the public sphere, he will join the debate in support of women’s rights. Furthermore, he acknowledges that women’s restricted access to education may make them…

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Womanhood as Slavery

The most important symbol in The Subjection of Women is undoubtedly slavery, which Mill uses as a metaphor for the condition of women at the time he is writing. Throughout the book, Mill describes women as existing in a state of “bondage” to men, who act as their “masters.” He emphasizes that women have so few legal rights that they end up effectively enslaved to their husbands, who wield absolute authority and control over…

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