Throughout history, masculinity has been viewed as superior to and more powerful than femininity. This power structure is seen in the gender hierarchies present in many different cultures and societies, and various historians and social theorists have described this and attempted to explain the impact on gender roles. Jean E. Howard, a professor at Columbia University, described one example of the gender system’s impacts in early modern England through her discussion of crossdressing. In her article “Crossdressing, The Theatre, and Gender Struggle in Early Modern England,” Howards explains how women were seen as naturally inferior to men, and for this reason, men who dressed as women were shameful for forfeiting their superior societal status.…
In it Locke also called for a form of government in which it would be responsible of securing its citizens natural rights. The rights he wrote about had to do with life, liberty, and property. Jefferson had similar conclusion about natural rights. He said that everyone has “….certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The difference between his definition and Locke’s definition of human rights may come down to that Jefferson was essentially ‘business owner’ in agriculture. The idea of the pursuit of happiness may also include property making Jefferson and Locke’s writing similar.…
The writers of the Constitution also agreed with the ideas of Rousseau. Rousseau believed that liberty was each person’s natural birthright and that the consent of the general population was what gave governments their authority. All of the Enlightenment thinkers would have been pleased with the addition of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.…
In this reform bill of 1867, Mill setting the guild lines for what made a women eligible to vote. Also, in his reform bill Mill’s claims in British society companionate marriage has become normal. This change in marriage means that men and women are spending more of their lives together as part of a family rather then operating as a separate group. Equality for women legally and socially will only help the family structure. Also, the growth of the Women’s Suffrage was closely tied to what many referred to as a sex war between men and women.…
What is feminism or the feminist theory perspective? Feminism is “the belief that women and men shall share equal rights in social arena as well as the political and economical arenas of life, to include the home life” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online. 2014). The Critical feminist theory tries to explain this as well from a criminologist perspective. It states that “critical feminism views gender inequality as stemming from the unequal power of men and women in a capitalist society” (Siegal.…
In the 18th century, Europe reached the glorious Age of Enlightenment, a political movement that introduced a new world of ideas to Europe and the world. Following the scientific revolution in the 17th century, advanced ideals such as liberty, progress, tolerance, fraternity, constitutional government, and separation of church and state came into people’s minds. They felt that they were enlightened, and Europe has finally emerged from a shadow. It was during this time that modern political ideologies, such as fascism and ethnic nationalism, and influential cultural movements, such as romanticism and religious revivals, were introduced. As such, the Age of Enlightenment has always been representative of the development of “modernity”.…
The Enlightenment, taking place in France and dominating European philosophy during the eighteenth-century, gave birth to many new ideas regarding legitimacy of authority and governmental power. Many philosophers of the time such as Rousseau, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Hobbes, and Locke had many different ideal forms of government and major beliefs, shaping today’s world. Rousseau wrote that the process made by civilization and enlightenment had corrupted the human nature. Montesquieu had a different view, as he favored the English system of separation of powers. Voltaire was a strong supporter of monarchal power, writing History of the Russian Empire under Peter the Great.…
Using the first principle of justice, the laws that are based off the “general will” will always promote the security and freedom of individuals intact. Due to the emphasis on promoting freedom and equality, the ideal society would fall under Rawls’ determination of fairness under the first principle of justice. Rawls puts an emphasis on equal liberties and Rousseau’s society is focused on equality of all individuals. In that society, individuals have social liberties similar to those Rawls emphasizes. “The social compact creates an equality among the citizens so that they all commit to the same conditions and should all have the same rights.” (Rousseau 108).…
Both wars were initiated by injustices of monarchies and inspired by Enlightenment ideas, and the French Revolution was largely inspired by the American Revolution. The French and American revolutions are often remembered by the exercise of thought of the Enlightenment. Such illuminist values guaranteed the right of men to life, liberty, the conquest of happiness, private property, self-government, free expression, and all men were equal. It also affirmed that the state should guarantee these rights to its citizens. The Enlightenment also brought important concepts like universal suffrage and the division of powers and also brought concepts about commercial freedom and ended any trace of feudalism.…
The idea of natural rights influenced all of Europe and it’s people which lead to revolution. Natural rights influenced many documents such as, The Declaration of Independence, The U.S. Constitution, and The Declaration of the Rights of Man. Natural rights by John Locke is the idea that humans are born with the right to life, liberty, and property. This idea inspired people to take a stand over the government and protect their basic liberties. It influenced people to have power to overthrow the government and start a revolution in order to gain equality.…