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Woman as Good as the Man: Or, the Equality of Both Sexes
Poullain de La Barre's De l'égalité des deux sexes is one of the earliest and most important statements on the difference between "sex" and "gender." Published in 1673, Poullain's treatise argues that the popular opinion of the inferiority of women is little more that socialized prejudice, legitimized by historians and philosophers who falsely assign their bias to nature rather than to their own psycho-sexual fears of female power.
Gerald MacLean's critical edition of the 1677 English translation helps today's readers understand how and why male-dominated societies have continued to subordinate women by maintaining that sexual difference is a hierarchical relation. In his introduction, MacLean examines why Poullain's ideas were largely ignored when they appeared in England and demonstrates how the false distinction between sex and gender has been systematically obscured by cultural forces.
Gerald MacLean's critical edition of the 1677 English translation helps today's readers understand how and why male-dominated societies have continued to subordinate women by maintaining that sexual difference is a hierarchical relation. In his introduction, MacLean examines why Poullain's ideas were largely ignored when they appeared in England and demonstrates how the false distinction between sex and gender has been systematically obscured by cultural forces.
168 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1988
138 people want to read
About the author
François Poullain de la Barre
12 books8 followersInitially studying theology, Poulain de la Barre adopted the philosophy of Descartes. He became a priest in the Champagne area before converting to Protestantism. After the Edict of Fontainebleau revoked the Edict of Nantes, he was exiled in Geneva.
He applied Cartesian principles to the question of women and wrote many texts of social philosophy which denounced injustice against woman and by the inequality of the female condition. Opposing the discrimination they experienced and as one of the champions of social equality between women and men, he is a precursor of the feminists.
In 1673, he published anonymously, "equality of the two sexes, speech physical and moral where it is seen the importance to demolish itself prejudge" showing that the inequality and the treatment that women undergo does not have a natural base, but proceeds from cultural prejudice. He recommends that women receive a true education and also says all the careers should be open to them, including scientific careers.
In another work, again anonymous, "Of the education of the ladies for the control of the spirit in sciences and manners", Poulain de la Barre continues reflection on the education of the women, but, a few years later, he defends a completely opposite point of view, "Of the excellence of the men against the equality of the sexes" and refutes in a systematic way his own arguments. Pierre Bayle has advanced the theory that Poulain would have refuted his own thesis because he felt threatened, but the arguments antifeminists advanced are doubtful of this refutation. Also, the place of Poulain de la Barre in the history of feminism varies considerably from one author to another.
Simone de Beauvoir, quoting Poulain de la Barre, wrote in an epigraph to The Second Sex in 1949: "All that has been written about women by men should be suspect, for the men are at once judge and party to the lawsuit".
He applied Cartesian principles to the question of women and wrote many texts of social philosophy which denounced injustice against woman and by the inequality of the female condition. Opposing the discrimination they experienced and as one of the champions of social equality between women and men, he is a precursor of the feminists.
In 1673, he published anonymously, "equality of the two sexes, speech physical and moral where it is seen the importance to demolish itself prejudge" showing that the inequality and the treatment that women undergo does not have a natural base, but proceeds from cultural prejudice. He recommends that women receive a true education and also says all the careers should be open to them, including scientific careers.
In another work, again anonymous, "Of the education of the ladies for the control of the spirit in sciences and manners", Poulain de la Barre continues reflection on the education of the women, but, a few years later, he defends a completely opposite point of view, "Of the excellence of the men against the equality of the sexes" and refutes in a systematic way his own arguments. Pierre Bayle has advanced the theory that Poulain would have refuted his own thesis because he felt threatened, but the arguments antifeminists advanced are doubtful of this refutation. Also, the place of Poulain de la Barre in the history of feminism varies considerably from one author to another.
Simone de Beauvoir, quoting Poulain de la Barre, wrote in an epigraph to The Second Sex in 1949: "All that has been written about women by men should be suspect, for the men are at once judge and party to the lawsuit".
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 20, 2025
A well thought out, argued and structured retort to the rhetoric at the time regarding women that honestly holds up today. It was so refreshing to read something from the past that still felt relevant, and in this political climate almost necessary
March 3, 2025
Easy to read
February 7, 2026
J’ai pas du tout accroché : le texte est long à lire, et rien ne ressort franchement. Malheureusement j’ai été assez déçue, le livre n’est pas mauvais…
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews