Chapter one in Tong’s book gives a fairly comprehensive look at liberal feminism and includes the history of the movement and the various sects within it. Tong covers a lot of very interesting and different perspectives. For example, she discusses Harriet Taylor Mill’s idea that society imposes ethical double standards on women. This means that the very qualities women are expected to have also prevent them from reaching their true potential. We talk a lot about society’s unreasonable expectations for women, but this is a different and very frank way to discuss how those expectations are holding us back. It is also very interesting because she notes how these apply to traits that are perceived as both negative and positive. As women, it is important that we allow ourselves to grow into our true natural traits and to develop from there into our full potentials.
Tong also discusses how the liberation of women can liberate men. For women to have the capacity to develop their career and other activities outside the home, men inherently also get the chance to develop their personal and family relationships and to spend time outside of the office, at home relaxing or enjoying hobbies. I think this is a really important point of women’s rights that isn’t often acknowledged. – It creates a more egalitarian society, which also expands the scope of which behaviors are acceptable for men. Already today, more men take part in childcare, cooking and housework than in the past.
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