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Kindle Notes & Highlights
“women were women by virtue of a certain lack of qualities
in comparable situations, men exhibit “masculine” psychological traits such as aggressiveness, rationality and assertiveness, whereas women will exhibit “feminine” traits such as gentleness, intuitiveness and sensitivity.
Essentialism sees men as able to think logically, abstractly and analytically, while women are mainly emotional, compassionate and nurturing creatures.
Women had no formal rights and were not represented in the law. Even if some women were able to receive a higher education, they were not allowed to receive the degree for which they studied. In marriage, the woman’s body belonged to her husband, who was also the only legal guardian of the children.
Early Modern feminist activity aimed at challenging the prevalent social view that women are weak and irrational creatures who should be controlled by men.
with a number of essays challenging the ideal of the female as “chaste, silent and obedient”.
