Women And Equality In Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Duties Of Women

The philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote in his Duties of Women “In the union of the sexes each alike contributes to the common end, but in different ways.” Rousseau was speaking to his assertion that men and women are inherently different and that each must use their difference in order to be part of a politically just society. The key to Rousseau’s argument is the political realm from which he argues a woman’s place. However, his claims seem to stand at odds with his beliefs regarding other political arguments such as the freedom of the individual, the inherent evil of government, and the abhorrence at the master and slave relationship created by society. Further, it is debatable as to whether the sexes are truly inherently different …show more content…
The first considers Rousseau’s interpretation of a women’s education, which he might interpret as a means of equality with men and a means of satisfying how women and men should be raised within a good society. Rousseau’s beliefs on educating women might initially be considered a liberal belief at that time. His belief on how women and men ought to be raised places a separation between the two, where the girls and boys abilities are encouraged. In Emile, a novel written by Rousseau, the education and purpose of that education is described. Two characters in Emile, Sophie and Emile, are to eventually be married in that novel. Their childhood education is then part of how these two characters are developed into the people that will be complementary to each other. Except, Emile’s education is a search for authenticity and demonstrates an interest in the fostering the individual, whilst Sophie’s consists of fostering Emile’s. As Rousseau believed, because Sophie is a girl she ought to be raised with that in mind. However, his means of doing this is to not foster the individual in Sophie, but to teach her to be a good housewife and mother and to never question the opinions of the male figures in her family . In this way, Sophie has been raised to be passive and to not seek out the freedom of individuality that Emile has been taught. Her education makes her the perfect spouse, made to compliment the other and encourage them, rather than be independent. The lack of independency and selfhood in Sophie’s education leads to the conclusion that Rousseau does not believe in women within the perfect society as equal individuals and participants. Rather, he is actively dissuaded the notion that women should be raised to be free individuals at