John Stuart Mill and Feminism

Continuation of Midterm Presentation of John Stuart Mill with an Emphasis on Feminist Ideas

(Arielle Cooper-H01)

Introduction

John Stuart Mill was a British philosopher who looked to his wife, Harriet Taylor Mill, and stepdaughter, Helen Taylor, who helped him develop his philosophy regarding women and social equality. His utilitarian view of life influenced his ideas towards women to be more liberal than the beliefs of other philosophers and ordinary people during his time. Utilitarianism prioritizes individual liberty and the happiness of the greatest amount of people possible; Mill applied utilitarian philosophy to every individual in society, including women. During the 1800s, women were viewed as subordinate and incapable of preforming as well as men can in nearly every aspect. Mill was very opposed to this idea and believed that the inclusion of women is just as important to society as the achievements of men. He argued that women were valuable to society and if given the same opportunities as men, they were capable of preforming just as well.  

What Influenced Mill’s Progressive Views? 

    Mill’s book On Liberty, which came out nearly twenty years before The Subjection of Women, discussed Mill’s principles for a democratic society in Europe. In this book, he identified a need for balance between government authority and individual autonomy. This started the argument that women were included in a democratic society and therefore should be given certain freedoms to ensure happiness for the greatest number of people. If women can contribute to society, it will be able to flourish and give more opportunities to the people in it. 

    Mill was heavily influenced by his wife, Harriet Taylor Mill. Their marriage was seen as equal and more of a friendship than typical marriages of the time. They were friends for several years before their marriage as Harriet was married once before John. Harriet was enchanted by Mill because he was the first person who treated her as an equal. For years before they were married, they exchanged essays and worked together to form ideas regarding marriage and rights of women. There is speculation that the two started an affair around 1833 when Harriet and her husband were separated. Due to intense speculation of this scandal, after Harriet’s husband died of cancer, the two waited two years before officially marrying in 1851. Their marriage was seen as intellectually equal, and they produced many works together including The Subjection of Women. Helen Taylor, Harriet’s daughter and John’s stepdaughter, also helped Mill write this book after Harriet’s death in 1858.  

Harriet Taylor Mill

John Stuart Mill and stepdaughter Helen Taylor

Background on Women’s Roles During Mill’s Time

Mill published The Subjection of Women during 1869. During the 1800s, the property and finances of women were under governance of their husbands. Women could not vote. Women were not given the same education as men. They were prepared from birth to raise a family and serve their husbands.  Here's a little more on women during 19th century Britain...

What Exactly Did Mill Say? 

“The principle that which regulates the existing social relations between the two sexes- the legal subordination of one sex to another- is wrong in itself and now one of the chief hinderances to human improvement” The Subjection of Women (p. 1)

• Mill argued that society could not properly advance without the help of women. Individual progression as well as societal progression cannot occur if inequalities exist; therefore, men and women should be equal.    

He stated that it “cannot be known how much of existing mental differences between men and women is natural and how much is artificial” The Subjection of Women (p. 125-126)

• Mill did not deny that there may be differences (for example, physical strength); however, he said that if women are not given the opportunity to be on the same level as men, then they will never be able to show that they are just as capable of certain tasks. 

“Is there so great a super fluidly of men fit for high duties that society can afford to reject the service of any competent person? Are we so certain of always finding a man made to our hands for any duty or function of social importance which falls vacant that we lose nothing by putting a ban on one-half of mankind?” The Subjection of Women (p. 94)

• Mill thought that women were equally capable of contributing to the workforce. He followed through with this belief in his personal life. Harriet Taylor and Mill completed several works together before her death, and afterwards her daughter continued in her footsteps.  

Marriage and Marital Slavery

Mill encouraged the idea of spousal friendship. He described women as slaves to their husbands as they were degraded and not free within marriage. He believed that with intellectual equality and respect within marriage present, as well as societal equality, the oppression of women would come to an end. Mill used the harm principle to defend his beliefs. The oppression of women harms their individual liberty and therefore it is morally wrong. 

Influence on Modern Philosophy

Mill’s ideas unfortunately had little progress in Parliament itself though he inspired other men to change their views toward women. He was the president of the Society for Women’s Suffrage and was the first member of parliament to call for the right to vote for women. He influenced the creation of modern feminist philosophy and was an early voice for women before national women’s rights movements really took off.  

Critical Views

Modern feminists argue that Mill was too focused on what women’s participation in society could do for men. They claim that Mill does not speak out against traditional gender roles enough. On page 89 of The Subjection of Women, Mill states, “when a woman marries, it may in general be understood that she makes choice of the management of a household and the upbringing of a family”. This perpetuates the idea that women lean towards caretaking and child-rearing as opposed to other professions. However, we have to keep in mind that Mill was very progressive for his time and it is nearly impossible for anyone to be completely untouched by stereotypes or traditional values of their time, especially before the creation of social media and instant global communication.