Compulsory Domesticity? - Comparing gender notions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and John Stuart Mill in "Émile" and "The Subjection of Women"

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The analysis explores the paradox within the theories of prominent political philosophers who advocated for individual freedom and self-governance while neglecting women's voices in their frameworks of representative democracy. It examines how the nuclear family, deemed the fundamental social unit, influenced their philosophies and raises critical questions about gender representation in political thought. Through this lens, the paper critiques the limitations of Enlightenment ideals and highlights the implications for women's roles in society.