Gender Roles In John Stuart Mill's Subjection Of Women

During the advancing industrial times of the Victorian era, common threads of individual and social improvements are were woven through the ideas presented by writers. In John Stuart Mill’s Subjection of Women and Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s To George Sand: A Recognition, the both approach the topic of societal progression in relation to women’s improvement of their individualities. According to Mill, Women women who follow a patriarchal society will continue to live in an unnatural way according to Mill and Barrett Browning follows suit by praising the way George Sand is a voice of equality between the sexes. Both of these authors challenge the reasoning behind the social and cultural constructs that inhibit a woman’s ability to improve …show more content…
The legal subordination which promotes the inequality between the sexes is not only inherently wrong, but also “one of the chief hindrances to human improvement” (Mill 1105). In order for women to improve upon the individual they must be free to improve their spectrum of learning and have liberties that are equal to men. Their true natures may be repressed or inadequately stimulated resulting in conformity and suppression of natural individual. A man desires the woman with which he is most intimately connected to be “not a forced slave but a willing one” and by likening their position to that of a slave, Mill demonstrates the restraints of domestication on the ability for women to find their natural individualities (Mill1108). Women are considered inferior and the universal acceptance of this promotes a culture in which women will act as such and continue to suppress her natural inclinations. As experience has shown that the rise in the social position of women is tied to social improvement, we should consider what is the most advantageous for society without the distinction of …show more content…
As a female novelist writing under a masculine penname in a male dominated field, Sand triumphs as a “true genius” who has broken free from masculine distain and shaken the conventions of women. Barrett Browning’s accolade not only acknowledges what this female writer accomplishes under a masculine pen name, calling on a reader’s sense of irony, but also speaks to the underlying issue of women’s subjection and being able to break free of patriarchal constraints. Women’s work and ability to contribute has been undermined by the male sense of superiority and we aspire to progress towards the unsexing of the current patriarchal order and biased political and cultural norms. Browning urges women to continue to push forward, let others “see thy woman-heart beat evermore” and be inspired “through the large flame.” (Barrett Browning