On Mill's Feminism

John Mill has been well known for his utilitarianism. Though in his theoretical and political life, one point cannot be neglected - his persistent defense for women's rights and emphasis on legal protection of equality between men and women. Considered as the last representative of liberal feminism, Mill's feminism is based on his utilitarianism, it is theoretically persuadable and completed because it was put forward after Seneca Falls meeting (a meeting on women's rights, and Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions had been passed on this meeting). John Mill focuses on individual freedom and individual development, which, in Mill's opinion, take an important part in individual happiness as well as social development. The freedom Mill emphasized should be finally put into practice with utility. In The Subjection of Women, he made a deep exploration into feminism from the prospective of women and education, women and professions, as well as women and political engagement. In Mill's opinion, women' rights should be protected legally; women should possess and improve their quality in order to "engage in all the professions occupied by men alone so far". With the consequence, Mill hold that the whole human relations will be improved universally and this will be helpful to human nature. From the viewpoint of a man, Mill defended for women's rights, this is objective enough to be a reference for the feminism research all over the world. Although Chinese feminism is developed under Marxism, Mill's feminism still can provide valuable things.