The essay offers detailed argumentation in opposition to legal and social inequality which abuses the rights of women. The author of the essay supports the emancipation of women on a utilitarian basis. Mill paid much attention to the mental and intellectual development of people, he saw people as intellectually and morally able to be civilized and educated. Mill believed that people should have the right to vote, with the exceptions of uneducated people and barbarians. Mill states that everyone should be able to vote and defend their rights, to be intellectually and morally independent.

Mill says that women are worse at some things than men, thus, should not be allowed to do those things. He claims that we just do not realize what women are capable of, since we rarely let them try. According to Mill, men contradict themselves because they claim that women cannot do some activity and want to prevent them from doing it. Mill claims that men admit the fact that women are capable of doing an activity, but that men do not let women do so. According to Mill (1874), "The anxiety of mankind to intervene on behalf of nature...is an altogether unnecessary solicitude. What women by nature cannot do, is quite superfluous to forbid them from doing" (Chapter 1). In fact, it is difficult to realize women's nature. Mill suggests that we should try to understand what women can or cannot do.

Women are usually brought up as if they were emotional and weak. If people tried equality, there would be benefits for individual women. They could be free from what men tell them to do. The result may be beneficial for society – the potential of people would be liberated and it could have a positive effect on human advancement.

The nature of Mill’s work is utilitarian and is based on the immediate greater good, society enrichment, and development of individuals. Mill argues that the free market for all of the services which are performed by women should be established, it might provide fair economic return for their contributions to the general well-being.

According to Mill, emancipation as well as education of women might have a positive outcome for men also. The encouragement of women’s companionship and competition of equally educated people might result in a greater intellectual development. Mill also stressed the subtle outcomes of the constant closeness of an uneducated husband or wife. The author of the essay claimed that men and women married to follow customs and the relation between them was purely domestic. Mill believed that the emancipation of women could play a role of a better connection between women and their husbands and improve relationships.

Mills also pays attention to marriage laws, he compares them with the subjugation of women. He refers to the subjection of women which becomes needless as slavery did before it. Mills says that there is a need for reforms of marriage legislation, among the propositions are the changing of inheritance laws with the help of which women would be able to keep their property and work outside the home, which allows them to gain financial independence.

The author also raised the problem of suffragism. The number of women is about half of the population, that is why they also have the right to vote. Mill thinks that the majority of men will vote for those MPs, who may subordinate women, thus, women must be allowed to vote to defend their interests. Mill claimed that we should give women a chance to excel in different spheres.

In conclusion, it is important to mention that Mill’s viewpoint is based on utilitarianism, the progress of society, and individual self-reliance. Utilitarianism is defined as maximizing happiness and minimizing suffering. Mill wrote that people are independent and capable of change. As people develop, they are able to control themselves, make their decisions, and be independent. According to the author, democracy is a form of self-dependence. It means personal liberty, liberty to govern our interests, and liberty for both women and men.

Reference

Mill, J. S. (1874). On liberty. The subjection of women. New York: H. Holt and Company.

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