GEN&SEX 139 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Olympe De Gouges, Biological Determinism, Comparative Anatomy
8 Nov 2016
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In the 18th century, increasing use of comparative anatomy to identifu: differences among races: arw they one species or many, differences between the sexes. We have discussed how social and cultural concerns can influence scientific questions, hypotheses, and conclusions: reminder: egg and sperm. At the same time, scientific debates can have a major influence on social and political events. It makes socially-produced differences appear to be natural . Can be used to justify inequalities and hide the social conditions behind them. 18th and 19th century women"s rights movements. 1791: declaration of the rights of woman and the female citizen (olympe de gouges) Demands for property, job, voting, education, and reproductive rights. By the mid 19th century, women"s rights movements increasingly threaten the european social order. Natural law philosophers argued that rights derived from human nature. Study of female skull confirms similiarity to children and lower races reveals lack of reason: maudsley and others argue.
