Question

The highly influential text titled "On the Subjection of Women", which systematically argues for gender equality and political enfranchisement, was written by which of the following political thinkers?

• A. \( \text{Karl Marx} \)
• B. \( \text{John Stuart Mill} \)
• C. \( \text{Thomas Hobbes} \)
• D. \( \text{Jean-Jacques Rousseau} \)

Hint:

J.S. Mill is one of the few early classical liberal thinkers who explicitly championed women's voting rights and equality in Parliament, making his name easy to associate with this classic feminist text.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Factual identification of core political texts is a recurring theme in humanities exams.
"On the Subjection of Women" is a foundational essay in liberal feminist theory.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. The Author: John Stuart Mill (J.S. Mill) wrote this text in 1869 in collaboration with his wife, Harriet Taylor Mill.
2. The Argument: Mill argued that the legal subordination of one sex to another is wrong and an obstacle to human improvement.
He advocated for women's right to vote and equal access to education and employment.
3. Distractors:
- Karl Marx: Known for "The Communist Manifesto".
- Thomas Hobbes: Known for "Leviathan".
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Known for "The Social Contract".
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct author is John Stuart Mill. Therefore, option (B) is the answer.