Equality of Women and Men According to Locke - Essay Example

Equality of Women and Men According to Locke Equality of Women and Men According to Locke In the discussion of the state of nature, Rousseau, Hobbles as well as Locke present a perception that women are equal and equal to men through nature. Despite the assertion from the three political philosophers, it is apparent that neither of the three argues for political equality in a civil society for women. Through the omission of the discussion, it serves in creating tension with the approach of the authors while it equally makes a reader reach decision behind such a purpose. The paper examines the purpose of as well as the tension that Locke presents with his approach of avoiding the discussion of political equality of women in the civil society. As a political philosopher as well as a social psychologist, John Locke remained an outspoken and vehement supporter of equal rights in a society that is governed. He attributed these rights to include right to life, liberty as well as property. Locke’s belief on the legitimacy of government argued that such powers of the government rested on the citizens and it ought to result from the basis of equality. His support for equality is evidenced through his support of religious beliefs and religion where his philosophical basis of his idea is based on the availability of equality in the state of nature. Once man leave the state of nature to form governments, the role of state of nature remains with men (Morgan, 732). As such, Locke argues that in mankind races as well as families throughout the whole world, every person is equal to each other with neither one individual allowed to be on top of the other. As such Locke describes the equality in the state of nature as based on the concept of reciprocal with every person having equal power to the other. According to Locke, all creatures of the same species possess equal advantages of nature and as such, none of the creatures from the same species ought to posses more rights than the other. Therefore, assured equality serves as the basis behind man’s agreement to enter a society. Throughout this discussion, it is apparent that Locke creates tension to the audience through avoiding the topic of women in politics. Locke keeps on referring to men in the formation of the state of nature as well as in the initial stages that led to the formation of governments. Through even referring to powers that God provided to Adam, Locke avoids discussion of women and any possible political roles within the society (Morgan, 732). It proves evident that Locke may have avoided the discussion of women intentionally as he recognizes their existences and discusses the relationship between men and women in the state of nature. As such, it may serve as an indication that Locke basically failed to discuss the role of women towards formation of government as men moved away from the state of nature. It therefore, serves as an indication to the readers that he may have intentionally avoided the discussion of women roles basically because he felt that women failed to possess any role in the formation of government and as such, presenting them as politically unequal to men. Consequently, Locke’s discussion of men may equally serve as a representation of both male and female. His discussion of men and women differently however serves as an indication of limited political freedom for women within a civil society. Another significant indicator of Locke’s failure to argue for political equality of women within the society is evidenced in his discussion of the civil society or what he refers to as political society. Locke asserts that God after creating man made a judgment of His own that it was wrong for man to remain all by himself. As a result, God believed it proved better to put man under strong obligations of convenience, necessity as well as inclination that would serve in driving him to society while at the same time fitting man with understanding as well as language to enhance continuous enjoyment of the society (Morgan, 733). Locke asserts the first society as one that started between man and wife that eventually led to the one between parents as well as children and with time, there came the addition of one between master and servant. The description of the beginning of the society by Locke may equally serve as an indication that the society was initially meant for men and women therefore joined the society as God’s will with an aim of supplementing the life of men. Such a description suggests that men continued to possess political power over their women even before the formation of a government. With men already in a dominating position before the women, children as well as slaves joined him that may have served as a reason behind continuous domination of political power within a civil society among men than their women counterparts. In description of marriage, Locke went further to portray lack of political equality among women within a civil society while compared to men. In description of conjugal society that is what in other words referred to as marriage, Locke first asserts that it results through a voluntary compact between a woman and a man. Through a voluntary compact, both parties within a marriage are supposed to enjoy equal rights. It is however important to note Locke’s claim on marriage that it draws mutual support as well as assistance together with communication of interests among parties despite the chief aim of the unification being procreation (Morgan, 736). Despite Locke calling for equality for all that may be translated to equality for men and women in the state of nature, it is through the conjugal relationship that he presents various obstacles that may limit the political life of women. From Locke’s description, the conjugal relationship presents some bases of inequality. Since marriage is based on the core goal of procreation, married individuals must ensure that they achieve that objective. Unification between man and woman in conjugal relationships proves essential not only for the aim of uniting care and affection among the two, but also important for their children that require nourishment and maintenance by the parents until they attain a period where they are capable of providing for themselves. Since the conjugal relationship is based on continuation of species as opposed to procreation alone, the conjunction between a man and a woman ought to last for the necessity of support as well as nourishment of the kids that require should be accorded sustenance by parties that got them until they reach a point where they will shift and depend on their own. The rule made by God is as a result obeyed in a steady manner by the inferior creatures (Morgan, 735). Locke goes ahead to indicate that conjugal relationship between animals feeding on grass ends upon copulation. The reason behind the end of the relationship between a female and a male animal that feeds on grass is attributed to the fact that the female animal possesses the capability of supporting the young one until it reaches a point where it can feed on grass. It is in the description of the reasons behind continuous relationship among male and female beasts of prey where we find a strong point that limits women to political equality. Locke asserts that a woman is unable to fully subsist herself as well as manage to nourish her numerous offspring individually. It is for that reason that the assistance of male proves crucial to help in maintaining the family that succeeds not because of individual capability in subsisting oneself but as a result of the joint care from the two parties. As such, Locke argues lies the chief reason behind the longer ties evidenced between a woman and a man since of the capability of a woman of conceiving with the continuous delivery of children making the relationship stick as a child is often brought to life before a woman’s dependency on the man comes to an end. Since the man is not only required by nature to only perform his roles during copulation but to further provide support and protection for the newborn as well as ensure continuation of the society, he is obligated to remain in a conjugal society with the same woman for a longer period. Since procreation occurs at a period where the woman is still dependent on the man, the process continues in the life of the two as opposed to other animals. It is in this concept where Locke serves in limiting the political power of women within a civil society (Morgan, 737). It is attributed to the fact that during the pregnancy period and rearing period, Locke attributes women as weak characters incapable of surviving and providing required nourishment as well as support for the newborns. Locke emphasis on the weak perspective of women during that period and that they have to depend on men. Since the dependency is recurrence as procreation is continuous, women eventually become denied political equality as men within the civil society that is supposed to reflect the state of nature. Therefore, the concept of women dependence on men during conjugal relationship is a significant indicator of how the power of women is limited within a civil society while compared to men in Locke’s description. Consequently, the husband is considered abler and stronger and as a result presenting men as stronger than women despite both sharing equal powers in a conjugal relationship. In conclusion, through omission of some description of some scenarios that involve women in the state of nature, Locke creates tension to the reader as a reader is left to wonder on the possibility of more to just a mere failure of inclusion. Consequently, it seems purposeful of Locke in limiting political equality of women within a civil society through portraying women as dependent on men in the conjugal relationship. Since it is the family relationships that eventually reflect into the larger society, the social contract approach in a way delimits the political power of women in a civil society. Reference Morgan, M. L. (2002). Classics of moral and political theory (5th ed.). Indianapolis: Hackett Pub. Co. Read More