Friday, February 19, 2016

Gender and Enlightenment

Subject: History and Anthropology
Format: MLA     Pages: 4     Sources: 4     Spacing: Double

Type of Service     Type of Work     Academic Level
Essay     Writing from scratch     College
Title
Gender and Enlightenment
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Gender and Enlightenment
Introduction
The politics of gender have been ongoing for quite some time as pundits offer different view on the position of women in the society. For a long time, women had been considered to be inferior to men. They could not be allowed to take the same opportunities as provided for their male counterparts. Arguably, women were put in confinement as subjects to men (Sophia 62). Allegedly, this notion led Sophia to pen down “Sophia, Woman Not Inferior to Man” to highlight the predicament of women in the society and their unrecognized prowess. Rousseau Jean-Jacques countered the assertions through his excerpt “Sophie or the Woman”. He lamented that women complaints about men injustice was invalid (Rousseau 67).
The cases of teachers like Debra LaFave, Pamela Rogers Turner, and Sara Bench Salorio
There is arranging debate on the ability of female teachers being endowed with great teaching prowess compared to their male counterparts. According to “Woman Not Inferior to Man” women produce more naturally capable teachers than men. Arguably, women are created with natural talent and eloquence necessary in the teaching fraternity. According to Sophia (62) “All the oratory of the schools is not able to give the men that eloquence and ease of speech” However, there has been an increase in cases of female teachers having sexual affairs with underage students. Arguably, order women being engaged in explicit acts with underage men was nothing new (Donaldson-Evans).Sophia would have stood in support of the alleged teachers. Indeed, “women can persuade what they please; and can dictate, defend or distinguish between right and wrong without the help of laws,” (Sophia 62). On the other hand, it is clear Rousseau would have rebuked the female teachers. He considers women to have been in a way that they should exhibit modesty in their behavior that should be appreciated if practiced within the law. Arguably, “In endowing women with unlimited desires he added modesty in order to restrain them; moreover he has also given a reward for the correct use of their faculties,” (Rousseau 66).
Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton Candidacy
The world today has seen recognition of women political leaders rising to the ladder of leadership against the backdrop of male counterparts. For instance, Hillary Clinton rise to powerful political positions as secretary of state, her presidential candidacy coupled with Sarah Palin contest for the Republican ticket indicates transformations towards gender acceptance. Sophia would appreciate and compliment this agitation to ascend to higher government and public offices. In her excerpt from the “Woman Not Inferior to Man” she laments men’s injustice to women, outright power and how the foundation of such mannish excessiveness should be sapped from it. “They first took the trouble of public employment off our hands, if their injustice were content with stopping there….they are not satisfied with engrossing all authority into their own hands…to confute this mannish extravagance, it will be necessary to sap it from the foundation on which it is built,” (Sophia 62). Rousseau considers woman rise could only be under the assistance of men. Arguably, there should have been a men force behind Palin and Hillary candidature. “In order for women to have what they need to fulfill their purpose in life, we must give it to them, we must want to give it to them,” (Rousseau 69)
Women in Combat Zones
The number of women exposed to military frontier regions has been increasing steadily. The US military opened combat positions to women to fill 220,000 jobs (Bradner). Arguably, women have embraced military duties and profession just like any other career. Apparently, Sophia had noted the similarity of the military responsibilities to other professions and as such women were still well endowed to venture into them just like men. “The military art has no mystery in it beyond others, which women cannot attain…persuasion, heat and example are the soul of victory: and women can show as much eloquence, intrepidity, and warmth, where their honor is at stake, as is requisite to attack or defend a town,” (Sophia 63). However, according to Rousseau’s “Sophie or the Woman”, there exists a difference in the moral duties of women and men. In this regard women should be relegated to please men as the law of nature but not be exposed to the combat frontiers. He notes that “One should be strong and active, the other weak and passive….woman was specifically made to please man….but it is the law of nature,” (Rousseau 66).
Growing Prevalence of Stay-at-Home Dads
More men are taking home duties exceptionally well just like women. The number of dads staying at home to take care of the home chores and take of their families has risen. It would be good gesture appreciative of her praise as Sophia considers both men and women to be endowed with equal propensions and passion.”And the soul operating in the same manner in the one and the other is capable of the very same functions in both,” (Sophia 61). In a broad perspective, taking “feminine duties” at home should be appreciative of the men but not ridicule them.” And therefore to use these expressions with propriety, when a man possess our virtues he should be called effeminate by way of the highest praise of his good nature and justice,” (63). Rousseau hold the opinion that women should be responsible for taking care of the children at home “she to whom nature has entrusted the care of the children must hold herself accountable for them,” (67).
Male Nurses
Recently, the number of male nurses has been in the rise as more men join the nursing profession. Considering men as exacerbate patient grievances, increasing treatment costs and puzzling the profession with hard names, Sophia would have rebuked male nurses. According to her, medicine should be a preserve for women. Sophia (63) observes that “Our sex seems born to teach and practice medicine; to restore health to the sick, and preserve it to the well.” In reference to men she says that “Indeed, we must yield to them in the art of inventing hard names, and puzzling the cure….adding to a patient’s grievance with the costliness of remedies,” (63). Apparently, men should practice medicine but they should take on different roles but not nursing. There should a distinct demarcation on the duties of men and women in the medicine fraternity. Rousseau observes that “In following the directions of nature they must act together but they should not do the same things; their duties have a common end, but duties themselves are different and consequently also the tastes that direct them,” (68). Rousseau considers men action to be right and beyond public opinion. He argues that “A man has no one but himself to consider, and so long as he does right he may defy public opinion,” (Rousseau, 69).
Conclusion
Sophia considered women to have more power and ability or to be equal to men. Women are born with natural eloquence and talent needed in different professions. They do not need laws to dictate upon what they should or should not do. However, Rousseau attributes women control to natural law and as such their behavior should conform to the tenets of modesty. Although the political platform has changed, women still find it difficult to ascend to government and public positions. However, few exceptions have been made and as such Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton candidacy implies worth and essential transformations. Rousseau holds the view that women and men cannot be equal. The assertion by women that men expose them to inequalities is invalid. Arguably, there exists a wide demarcation on the natural duties for men and women. Men are endowed with power and vigor to undertake demanding jobs while women are naturally weak such that they should undertaker lesser roles.

Works Cited
Catherine, Donalson-Evans. When Ms. Teacher Goes After Male Pupil. 12 Feb. 2005. Web. 4 Feb. 2016 http://www.foxnews.com/story/2005/02/12/when-ms-teacher-goes-after-male-pupil.html
Eric Bradner. US Military Opens Combat Positions to Women. 3 Dec. 2015 Web. 4 Feb. 2016 < http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/03/politics/u-s-military-women-combat-positions/>
Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Sophie or the Woman Government and Politics in the Enlightenement 65-69
Sophia. Woman Not Inferior to Man Global Patterns of Politics and Culture 60-64


 

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