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What, in unenlightened societies, colour, race, religion, or in the case of a conquered country, nationality, are to some men, sex is to all women; a peremptory exclusion from almost all honourable occupations, but either such as cannot be fulfilled by others, or such as those others do not think worthy of their acceptance.

John Stuart Mill#61

SocietyEqualityGenderDiscriminationExclusionGender rolesOccupationWork

About this quote

What does it mean?
In some societies, race or religion dictates status, but for all women, sex dictates exclusion from honorable work.
In plain terms
Women are excluded from many jobs just because of their sex like other groups are by race.
What can you take from it?
Gender exclusion limits women's opportunities universally.

Where it applies

  • workplace equality
  • social hierarchy
  • women's rights

Putting it to work

  • challenging gender bias
  • reviewing hiring practices
  • advocating for equality

Questions to consider

  • How does sex limit work today?
  • Is exclusion still widespread?

Another view

It generalizes across all societies without specifying time or place.

More from John Stuart Mill

  1. I deny that anyone knows, or can know, the nature of the two sexes, as long as they have only been seen in their present relation to one another. If men had ev…

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  2. When we consider the positive evil caused to the disqualified half of the human race by their disqualification - first in the loss of the most inspiriting and …

    Permalink to quote #62
  3. Stupidity is much the same all the world over. A stupid person's notions and feelings may confidently be inferred from those which prevail in the circle by whi…

    Permalink to quote #59

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