Dr. Batya Weinbaum
English 102
January 25th 2015
On the Equality of the Sexes
Gender inequality has been a timely issue in the US for centuries and has left a great number of articles, essays, and novels. Among such, On the Equality of the Sexes is quite successful in telling the readers about the role of a woman in the society. The work itself is the evidence of how intelligent females can be. Murray effectively conveys the difficult position of a woman in the end of the 18th- beginning of the 19th century. Moreover, the author draws a parallel between genders considering many features and abilities. This paper is aimed to show how the use of numerous examples together with logical sequence and tone makes Murray’s essay quite informational and convincing about the justice of gender equality instead of female inferiority.
From the title of the essay, any educated person would grasp a sarcastic mood of the author. Being written in 1790, the essay cannot describe gender equality in the society as it is widely known that women in the US hardly got any rights till the 20th century. Therefore, Murray had to focus her attention on the issues that existed in the society that was modern to her. She offered the evidences that the equality of the sexes was a timely issue deserving particular attention. Hence, the title is chosen quite precisely to intrigue the readers and dispose them to meet the disputable questions. The author discusses the mental abilities of both sexes in the first
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part and refers to the religious aspects and relations between men and women in the second part.
Murray used many questions that make the readers approach to the issue critically. Therefore, the comprehension of the people, who belonged to different societies or historical periods, could differ. The primary question asks if “the nature is … partial in her distributions” and mostly about the “mental superiority” of species (Murray 133). Mainly these two questions logically complement the idea presented in the title and search for answers in the further abstracts. Some more questions are also interesting and can be either rhetorical or make people feel more interested in the essay. Usage of the questions lets one not just grasp the information superficially, but analyze it and perceive more deeply.
Murray considers the differences between genders based on the mind peculiarities. Even though she supports the idea that “minds are not alike”, the belief that the females’ intellect is inferior to the males’ one is completely rejected (Murray 133). In order to prove her ideas, Murray focused attention on a comparison of various brain abilities separately. She analyzed such features as imagination, reasoning, memory, and judgment. The women’s mind is considered as very creative, the imagination is inventive and used in almost all spheres of life. In fact, social rules and limitations spoil the females imagination and waste their possibilities that could be directed appropriately. The necessity to be devoted solely to “domestic duties” like “needle and kitchen” wastes the creative and intelligent features of women (Murray 135). In reality, a woman can easily combine many things. Anthony 3
Murray believes that men and women are created as equal. Mainly “contrary modes of education” adopted in the society with many other norms make males and females different (Murray 134). While boys are taught to become ambitious, girls should focus on domestic work. One more important argument is that God has created men and women with the same opportunities and treated both of them respectfully. Even though they have differences, they are physiological rather than the mental ones. Murray points out that “the same breath of God animates” men and women, invigorates, and enlivens them (Murray 135). Therefore, different approaches and examples broaden the intended audience of the author.
The author gives examples that represent the “each day’s experience” to prove her ideas (Murray 134). The inventive imagination of females is supported by the facts that they often behave playfully. At the same time, they are extremely interested and successful in fashion and writing exciting books. They even stay powerful in inventing scandals, which is also a “formidable” ability of their “fertile brains” (Murray 134). The evidences that education is very important for a woman are also quite persuasive for each average person. For women, “consciousness of inferiority … embitters enjoyment” (Murray 135). Therefore, education is crucial for females as it makes them judge more wisely and form a happier family ensuring welfare of the society.
Men and women are equal in spiritual and mental spheres. Although Murray does not reject that their minds are different and house duties were always considered to be the female ones, she emphasizes that many of the restrictions existing in the society waste a great number of the female creative and intelligent potential that can bring many positive changes to the society.
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Therefore, struggle or the equality of education and social position is a good way to make families happier and society more productive in many spheres.
Works Cited
Murray, Judith Sargent. “On the Equality of the Sexes.” The Massachusetts Magazine Apr. 1790: 132-38. Printing
Murray, Judith Sargent. “On the Equality of the Sexes.” Penn Libraries. Ed. Mary
Ockerbloom. n.d. Web. 11 May 2012.
Cited: Murray, Judith Sargent. “On the Equality of the Sexes.” The Massachusetts Magazine Apr. 1790: 132-38. Printing Murray, Judith Sargent. “On the Equality of the Sexes.” Penn Libraries. Ed. Mary Ockerbloom. n.d. Web. 11 May 2012.
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