In the chapter, Relationships (pp. 97-121),Professor Bloom discusses attitudes towards sex,separateness, and divorce and their impact on present day American society. Comment on the fundamental roles of men and women and how these have been seen by such v

Roles of Men and Women as Seen by Observers Such as

Rousseau , Locke , de Torqueville , and Feminist

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Course Humanities II (21386

Submitted to

Dr . Richards

March 17 , 2007

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Introduction

The sexual revolution and feminism are movements that have caused alarming conditions on American families and community as well . Both have undermines the traditional role of men and women and promotes sexual liberation which demands the expression of sexual passion without the stigma of the society . This implies relationship ' not

based on love and commitment but on convenient arrangement

Feminism on the other hand , asserts equality between men and women They demanded they should be free from the submissive role in the husband and wife relationship and in the burden of rearing children as well as every aspect of their social life . With these two movements working in agreement but sometimes at odds with each other , the society is left confused what the roles should really be . These developments as seen by Rousseau , Locke and other movements , are what this tries to present

The Role of Men and Women

The arguments of equality between men and women pose a very important view that determines the moral fiber of a society . The debate on absolute liberation of women which include subjection of marriage and child-bearing and rearing completely erased the traditional concept of family , and the special concern by men for women . It also loses the importance of the family which is the basic unit of the society

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The consequence of this is a society that has no regard for morality and religion for the latter limits the expression of freedom towards moral issues such as expression of sexual passion

But there is a point that one must see and consider in the feminist quest for sexual liberation . American people cannot simply ignore the fact that many women are victims of men 's harassment , they were even considered as merely sex objects

Even so , Rousseau pointed out that society should not tolerate absolute liberation for it will result to the breakdown of families and disintegration of societies into particular wills . Rousseau is alarmed by the fact that even the `religious and civil regulations ' are now discredited in favor of the feminist assertion of sexual liberation , and the liberation of sexual passion . For him , he believed in the traditional role of men and women and should encourage passionate romantic love in them . He encourages women to be different from men and take on the burden of entering positive contract with family . In effect , he was saying that women should not view marriage as subjection to , and child-bearing and rearing is not a burden (119

Torqueville shared the same view as Rousseau and made it specific that success of American democracy is attributed to its women who freely chose their lots (120 ) Both Torqueville and Rousseau had seen this development to be detrimental in the family

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life of the community as well...