The legal subordination of one sex to another is wrong in itself

Qn. "The legal subordination of one sex to another is wrong in itself, and now one of the chief hindrances to human development." Comment. UPSC 2023 Paper 1A - Qn 4b

J. S. Mill's 'The Subjection of Women' begins with the revolutionary statement "The legal subordination..." in reference to the English law of marriage contract. Property rights of women are severely subordinated to male members of family and women had to go through a paradoxical situation in modern age, the principles of liberty and equality were not applied to the condition of women.

According to Mill, the reason why women's inequality survived slavery and political absolutism is, in case of slavery, only slave holders and despots are interested but in case of women's subordination, all men are interested.

Mill's argument against natural inferiority of women's nature is that he considered inequality as a result of socialisation. Mill showed examples of women's aptitude for political leadership citing European queens and Hindu princesses.

His argument against the women's voluntary acceptance of subordination is that women from childhood were made to believe that 'the ideal character lies in submission and yielding to the control of others'. Mill questioned the gender of decision maker in a family when there are two adults.

Mill emphasizes on the numerous benefits that will follow from allowing women the liberty to control their own destiny and the freedom to hold an equal position in society -

  • The family where power is concentrated in father/husband/master is an anachronism to modern democratic politics
  • Women can serve in doubling the mental faculties available to society
  • Women enjoying equality will have a better influence on mankind - adds for the promotion of human progress
  • The utilitarian principle of the greatest happiness of the greatest number is satisfied
He says egalitarian families are essential for development of democratic polities. He argues that social and legal conditions which restrict the liberty of women serve as one of the 'chief hindrances of human development'.



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