John Stuart Mill

A theme that keeps popping up while I read the Victorian authors is the institution of marriage in Victorian society and the restrictions placed on women. John Stuart Mill is perhaps the most extreme liberal I have come across in this course. He has many thoughts similar to other writers but in my opinion delves into them deeper and takes greater risks in creating an argument for equality of both sexes. Through his “The Subjection of Women” Mill’s creates a history of why men and women are treated with so many differences. What I found so admirable about Mill is that he asked readers to create their own opinion of situations. He was honest with his opinion and made sure it was heard, he never really forced it upon others. Instead, he wrote the facts as he saw them and he wrote why he thought it was unjust. Mill was a great mind who was brave enough to challenge society. It is scary to think where society might be today without Mill and others who dared to question normality.
Mill reveals the truth behind the inequalities of men and women. He addresses several misconceptions, not afraid to say things others may cower away from admitting. It was very commonly mistaken that women voluntarily took their role as servant to men with honor and dignity. This however is far from the truth. “In the first place, a great number of women do not accept it. Ever since there have been women able to make their sentiments known by their writings, an increasing number of them have recorded protests against their present social condition.” (523) Perhaps the reason why it appears that women so eagerly accept their role is that there is no proper outlet where they can express their feelings. Writing was the only way from them to earn publicity and not every woman had the education or ability to achieve this. They were given no legal rights or place in the court system and so government would not hear of their complaints. I can not imagine how frustrating it must have been to be a woman during this period. If your husband abuses you and cheats on you, the courts can still find you guilty. There is no opportunity for advancing in society and having a career or passion outside of the social norm was unheard of!
Not only did Mill write about the unjust marriage institution what I found noble was that he publicly denounced adhering to these laws in his own marriage. In his “Statement Repudiating the Rights of Husbands” Mill actually says that these laws are so unfair that he will not take any part of them! “Feel it my duty to put on record a formal protest against the existing law of marriage…and a solemn promise never in any case or under any circumstances to use them.” (527) Mill Continues to vow that in the event of marriage between him and Ms. Taylor she will be able to keep all her freedoms and have the same rights and privileges as himself. I felt it was extremely important that Mill take this step to define the grounds on which he would be married. Unlike so many other authors who simply write about these principles using made up characters to express them, Mill takes action in his own life and leads by example. While he may not have been the first to approach a marriage with this attitude, he is the first I have come across that has publicly sworn to it. I find myself really admiring Mill for his work. His bravery paved the way for many later activists who fought for women’s right. I think Mill’s would be proud to see today that in most parts of the world women are treated with the same regards as men.