HUM 2052: Civilization II Spring 2013 Dr. Perdigao February 6-8, 2013 The Woman Question HUM 2052: Civilization II Spring 2013 Dr. Perdigao February 6-8, 2013

On Liberty Notion of sovereignty, state’s authority—ending of Candide? Idea of the “state” Human liberty—as Italian creation, in Middle Ages and Renaissance, not in sovereign states in Europe 16th and 17th centuries, liberty rarely discussed—only in writings by Calvinist opponents of absolutism Mid-seventeenth century in England, political thought that “human liberty can be ensured within the confines of a powerful national state: one governed by mere mortals and not by divinely sanctioned and absolute kings” (Perry 397) Republican ideal as alternative to absolutism during European Enlightenment in eighteenth century Revolutions in late eighteenth century, Europeans and Americans repudiated monarchical systems and opted for republics Human rights (Perry 435) Representation of slavery in Candide; in Diderot’s Encyclopedia (1755)

Instilling Enlightenment? Role of women during Enlightenment Salons (Perry 422-423), women as key organizers Training in self-government, self-education, social criticism, leads to social revolutions (Perry 423) Standards of education for girls and women were poor—calls for reform but only by few With industrialization in 1800, women in work force, need for literacy, changes in education Rousseau’s Sophie to Émile—bears burden of “instilling enlightenment” although limited experience of world and education (Perry 433); Kant: women feel and do not reason (Perry 436)

Contextualization Origins of late twentieth-century feminism in eighteenth-century writing (235) Notions of individuality emerging during the period Feminist education Violations of “rational principle,” that women could be executed but not vote in France (236)

The Perfect Woman (1975, 2004)

The New Stepford?

Anonymity “Sophia,” eighteenth century “Woman Not Inferior to Man” (1739); “Woman’s Superior Excellence over Man” (1740) Submitting one’s “will to reason” to men as masters (245); “pretended authority” (246) Passions versus reason Idea of authority in reason (246) England as model, “how much happier a kingdom is” (255), university culture, women’s place within it Theodor Gottlieb Von Hippel (1741-1796), East Prussia, writing in sentimental fiction, poetry, hymns, and moral and social treatises “On Improving the Status of Women” (1792) Published anonymously, like Sophia’s Wrote supporting the rights of women “Liberty, this divine spark by means of which we are what we are” (267) “The female sex was deprived of its human rights by no fault of its own, but merely through the great strides forward taken by all human activity and affairs in their advancement toward civilization” (267)