Mill on Feminism
Loading...
Authors
Danica Crews
Issue Date
2026
Type
Language
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
John Stuart Mill was an English philosopher, most influential for his conception of liberalism and social liberalism. Though much of Mill’s library consists of influential text including On Liberty, Utilitarianism, and A System of Logic, one piece of writing in particular touched on a subject that would not truly be solved even 153 years after his death: The Subjection of Women. Mill defended feminism in hopes of changing the idea that women are subordinate by nature, but rather subordinate because of the conditions they are subjected to. I will argue this point based on Mill’s idea of the presumption of freedom and his rejection of paternalism. I will then discuss Mill’s opinion on a woman’s right to vote, as well as marriage as an institution, and how he describes them as tools of oppression. I will then discuss the law of strength, and his idea of a malleable society. I will then conclude my discussion of Mill by describing how he argues for equality, along with the rights he believes women should be granted in a liberal society. Finally, I will discuss how Mill’s idea of feminism differs from popular feminism today and argue that Mill’s feminist arguments do support 21st-century feminist goals.