Shreya Biswas
Volume-XIV, Issue-II, January 2026
Volume-XIV, Issue-II, January 2026 | ||
Received: 20.01.2026 | Accepted: 26.01.2026 | |||
Published Online: 31.01.2026 | Page No: | |||
DOI: 10.64031/pratidhwanitheecho.vol.14.issue.02W. | ||||
John Stuart Mill
and The Question of Women’s Right: An Overview
Shreya Biswas, Research Scholar, The University of Burdwan,
Bardhaman, West Bengal, India | |
The 21st century has been abuzz with the issue of women‟s rights. From the ongoing movements raging in Iran where the protestors are clamouring for their freedom from the orthodox rule, to various political repartee regarding the rampant atrocities taking place against women. Similarly the issue of granting political rights is still a matter of debate. Feminism, despite being a topic of febrile interest amongst scholars across the globe, political thought has always been shrouded by men. But polymaths like J.S. Mill stand way apart from the rest for professedly championing the feminine prerogatives. Mill basically, through this trailblazing work on women enfranchisement, championed the equality of the sexes in the most profound way. The very aim of this paper is to provide a brief overview of J.S. Mill‟s conceptualisation of women‟s rights. A significant tranche of this paper throws light on his ground-breaking work, The Subjection of Women (1869) and how he has conceptualized the women question in its entirety. His stance on marriage, property and career prospects of women explicitly makes him a feminist icon. To come up with such ingenious idea regarding female enfranchisement back then is a commendable job in itself. Today in this digital age, things centred on women empowerment or women‟s rights are discussed with much candour. But to talk about the same during his time despite resistance claims appreciation and accolades. J.S. Mill, will always be hailed as one of most significant feminist icons of all times. This paper is exclusively based on theoretical and analytical interpretation of Mill‟s work in order to provide a nuanced understanding of female enfranchisement as depicted by him. The very objective of this paper is to unearth those aspects of Mill‟s thought where he has focused on female empowerment. This paper seeks to explore how he has conceptualised the very institution of family and his take on public–private divide, property rights of women and marriage. | |
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