Men do not want solely the obedience of women, they want their sentiments

Men do not want solely the obedience of women, they want their sentiments

John Stuart Mill, a prominent 19th-century philosopher and advocate for women's rights, believed that men do not simply desire the obedience of women, but also their sentiments. This statement reflects Mill's belief in the importance of recognizing and valuing women's emotions, thoughts, and desires in addition to their actions.

In his seminal work, "The Subjection of Women," Mill argued that the subordination of women to men was a social injustice that needed to be rectified. He believed that women should have the same rights and opportunities as men, including the right to education, employment, and political participation. However, Mill also recognized that true equality between the sexes required more than just legal and political reforms; it also required a shift in societal attitudes towards women.

By stating that men want not only the obedience but also the sentiments of women, Mill was highlighting the need for men to respect and value women as individuals with their own thoughts, feelings, and desires. He believed that true equality between the sexes could only be achieved when men saw women as equals in every sense of the word, including emotionally and intellectually.

Mill's emphasis on the importance of women's sentiments was a radical departure from the prevailing attitudes of his time, which often viewed women as emotional and irrational beings who needed to be controlled and guided by men. By asserting that men should not only seek women's obedience but also their sentiments, Mill was challenging the traditional gender roles and power dynamics that had long oppressed women.