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Gabrielle Suchon A WOMAN WHO DEFENDS ALL THE PERSONS OF HER SEX

Gabrielle Suchon A WOMAN WHO DEFENDS ALL THE PERSONS OF HER SEX. Pages 131-228 Rebecca Langmead , Landon Poato , Joanna Sabatino. FROM PART II, ON KNOWLEDGE: ALTHOUGH DEPRIVED OF KNOWLEDGE, PERSONS OF THE SEX DO NOT LACK THE NECESSARY QUALITIES TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE. FORWARD

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Gabrielle Suchon A WOMAN WHO DEFENDS ALL THE PERSONS OF HER SEX

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  1. Gabrielle SuchonA WOMAN WHO DEFENDS ALL THE PERSONS OF HER SEX Pages 131-228 Rebecca Langmead, Landon Poato, Joanna Sabatino

  2. FROM PART II, ON KNOWLEDGE: ALTHOUGH DEPRIVED OF KNOWLEDGE, PERSONS OF THE SEX DO NOT LACK THE NECESSARY QUALITIES TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE. FORWARD • Knowledge is not only “the finest quality the human mind can possess” but is at the cornerstone of inequality. • Women have the ability, not only to obtain knowledge, but to excel. Though many examples it can be shown that women have the same abilities to learn as men do. • The lack of education provided for women can be viewed as a form of slavery in which men believe they can only govern over ignorant women. • Although men are to blame for the deprivation of knowledge from the female sex, women must take some blame for their own ignorance, especially those whom have the means to escape their ignorance. • Women possess many vices including their indulgence in gossip, luxury, flirtatiousness, vanity and greed. • Men and Women are the same spiritually thus possess the same abilities to knowledge intelligence. This is also looked as a guide to linking knowledge to becoming a perfect Christian. Rebecca

  3. CHAPTER 1 – DEFINITION OF KNOWLEDGE • Suchonconsistently references bible verses and quotes to back up her argument. She believes (as the Holy Spirit says) that the happiest man is the one who finds wisdom and obtains knowledge. Believing also that “wisdom” is a gift from the Holy Spirit. 137 • Wisdom, knowledge and intelligence are virtues that enlighten men’s minds. 138 • When stripped down, the best definition of knowledge is: “nothing other than certain and evident understanding of the individual and particular causes of things.” 138 Because it is such a simple definition it has room to contain all sorts of types of knowledge. In saying that, women have many opportunities to obtain knowledge.139 • Knowledge is a “universal quality” given to mankind by God for all to practice. 140

  4. CHAPTER V – OUR NEED TO UNDERSTAND DIVINE TRUTHS • Although we may never be able to obtain the knowledge held by God we must still strive to obtain knowledge of the divine in order to “elevate our thoughts to heaven”. 141 • There is no greater gift that man can receive than knowledge of the truth. Learning such divine truths will lead us to salvation 141 • Faith is given equally to men and to women from God. He gives women the “same natural and inborn tendencies…”. 146 Therefore, women should not be deprived on the subject of religion. 147 • The weakness women possess is not a direct result of their sex, but a result on their inability to be knowledgeable of the divine. Because women are denied this Godly right, they are subject to ignorance. Moreover, those who have obtained knowledge regarding religion and religious scripture are “dismissed as illusions and fantasies.” 147 • Through reading scripture we can see how women are constantly encouraged to be learned in scripture and divine truths. 148 • In summary, “if women were allowed access, they could become learned in scholasticism or at least not ignore the principle truths it teaches” 149

  5. CHAPTER VII – CONTINUATION OF THE SAME SUBJECT (THE USEFULNESS OF THE HUMAN SCIENCES) • Through understanding the human sciences we can obtain useful knowledge that will bring us closer to God. 149 • Philosophy teaches one what is proper and how to maintain and achieve virtue. Without it, “no one can live in peace of mind”. It provides humans with “good counsel” and protects us from “misfortune”. 152 • Women are deprived of the ability to learn philosophy, therefore, they are no better than beasts. What makes it worse is that women have the ability to acquire knowledge but not the means to do so. If collages existed for women they would be able to become equally as knowledgeable as men. 155

  6. Chapter XX - Persons of the sex are capable of knowledge: • Even the lowliest beings are created by god have a purpose, worth cannot be defined by sex. • Men boast of their advantages of being superior to women in obtaining knowledge. • Women are just as capable; they are Rational and Intelligent by nature • The teachings of god indicate that souls are created equally; women are an extension of man, having been created from the rib of Adam. • “who could doubt the competence and ability of the sex, whose bodies and souls have the same origin as those of men?” 157 • The creation of Adam and Eve to resemble him supports that women aren’t much different. God created them both and gave them “knowledge and good sense” 159 • “truths are expressed so clearly in scripture that the criticism of envious men is powerless to obscure them.” 159 • Women have been unfairly treated and that the glory of knowledge has been reserved for men. Women are overshadowed by the male dominance in intellectual fields. if given the chance, women are capable of great things. • Biblical reference highlights the ability of women and the important roles in which they played spreading the word of god. • Important figures supported an idea of equality, Saint Augustine regarded women as being “on an equal footing with men.” 162 • Greek prophets like Plutarch recognizing women like Sappho’s work to be equal to that of men and in no way influenced by their sex. • Ideas of women’s natural intelligence and ability, being more refined as girls began to grow at a younger age. Landon

  7. Chapter XXI: Several examples of persons of the sex who succeeded in the human sciences • Women in the bible have done incredible things. They play a significant role in the happenings of scripture • Women’s intuition has been a thing throughout history, an example being foretelling of the Trojan war and the destruction of Troy. • Examples of women through history depict beauty of both body and mind

  8. Chapter XXX: Ignorance is the cause of all the havoc that persons of the sex wreak, most especially by their slander: • women find nobility in virtue and the pursuit of knowledge. • Both men and women can find themselves falling victim to vices although men are more susceptible due to differences in occupation and behavior • Women take no part in the destruction of other nations, the administering of justice, or involvement in the higher order of the church. Authority leads to corruption, the abuse of power is a quality reserved for men. • Women are isolated from occupations where corruption is a possibility. Women are better off without being involved in such matters • Major havoc that women inflict is “divided into four sources: Slander, Vanity, Coquetry and greed.” 176 • Gossip and slander can lead to the defamation of individuals, compromising honor and reputation aiming to “tarnish the good name of those whom they discredit” 177 seen as a deadly poison or a sharpened razor. • Women are seen to speak more than men; this was interpreted as a sign of weakness, and a result of an unexercised mind. 180

  9. Chapter XL: Continuation of the same subject and Conclusion to the Treatise on Knowledge [Third Objection to the Proposition: Study is Very Difficult and Persons of the Fair Sex Do Not Have the Wherewithal to Devote Themselves to This Work]: • God created women and men as equals, yet it is man who deprives women of the opportunity to obtain knowledge and become learned. • “Women, like men, are endowed with understanding, memory and will.” 184 • The study of the sciences are just as suitable to women • Men hold these rights as they are seen as the “first born members of mankind.”184 • Men believe this is a just act as women are incapable; ignorance keeps women out of universities, and academic establishments that were created by men. • “Reasons of the sex does not represent a stable and permanent right that men can claim against women. And yet men do deprive women of all means necessary for the acquisition of knowledge.” 185 • Despite the unfair treatment of women’s education, acts of change fail due to men’s oppression of women and the exclusiveness of universities and colleges. • Women’s capability of acquiring knowledge is determined by men’s “petty reasons and bad customs that turn women away from studying and learning.”188

  10. From Part III, On Authority: Women can share authority without deviating from the submission they owe to the first sex. FORWARD • Despite Suchon’s argument of women becoming knowledgeable, she is advocating that it is not her intention for women be persuaded and aspire to govern. She has women look GOD and the words of St. Peter who says that women are to be governed and be submissive to any man who has power over them. And that knowledge not be acquired illegally. 191-192. • * What Is the role of Knolwedge in a women’s life according to Suchon? Note the quote at the end of the chapter and see how the quote states that a poor main can sit with princes and not become a prince. 192 Joanna

  11. Chapter I - Governance is Established by GOD • God establishes who reigns and is given governance and should be in the interest of men that they work together rather than against each other and a man who resists the order on earth, resists the order of GOD. This is proven further by Jesus’ submitting to Emperors and Monarchs on earth. 193-194. • Rulings today can be seen as no longer apart of God’s admittance but by man’s malice seeing how men assume the power of throne through conquest and usurpation. • She brings forth examples from Roman history of despicable families and men who once ruled and makes a fact to state that GOD does not need “the purple or Royalty or the brilliance of wealth to make Heroes and Monarchs.” This means – a man his chosen by God, not by his family or wealth and goes into the biblical take of the crowning of King David. 196-197 • For the sins of the people, they are granted a wicked king as punishment whereas the good are given a noble one. This proves as to how some wicked men become rulers. 198 • Women have been granted governance far more than men would like to admit. In the beginning, GOD gave men and women equal mastery over all that resides under heaven and now men’s power over women is more forced than legitimized.198-199

  12. Chapter IV - Continuation of the Same Subject (Different Forms of Governance) • Society would not stand with so many different thinking people and need a ruler to maintain its existence. The loyalty to the king and submitting to those he sends on his behalf for they reward the good and punish evil. This is a part of God’s will that by doing their duty, they can silence and ignore foolish men (As stated by St. Peter) 199 • This is proven in nature such as herding animals have one leader and how there is one sun, one star to follow at night 200 • She brings examples of different kinds or ruling and even Plato’s Republic; in the end falling on Monarchic state as the best and perfect way of rule stating its unity eliminates all confusion with respect to authority and power as well as enlists the wisest and most capable to participate in that power 202 (This could be disputed) • One should never forget who the first ruler of all power is, GOD, and thus rulers should not seek for things unlawfully for the rulers of men are the servants of GOD as well. 203 • Women are restricted to gain sovereign not by divine right but by laws that deprive them of their power, especially in marriage. However, women can exercise their sovereignty if necessary and illegitimize their husband’s actions. Case in point Mary Stuart of Scots who married her subject. 204 • Women have managed to become visible to the world of politics and one Empress and one group effort to prove the political power of women 205

  13. Chapter X - Women are Capable of Governing • Only laws and customs establish women’s disadvantage in governance when they have a will and capability as strong as men’s 206 • From GOD, women possessed the useful qualities of leadership and is evident by choosing women become prophets for men lacked these capabilities 207. • She brings up a lot of pagan women as well as Christian to set an example for women’s capabilities of practicing sovereignty and this is because persons of gentle, humane minds are more fit to govern according to Seneca 211-212 Chapter XI - Continuation of the Same Subject [Women are Capable of Governing] • Continues to bring forth more examples of Women who governed to dispute the claim that women may have the right, they are not always fit to govern to prove that to state women cannot rule is entirely fictitious. 215 • Again, she borrows examples from tales and history • How the Church has excluded women from positions of power. • This could be because men were subjects of women in almost every aspect of daily life and the correction of morals 219 • She uses the example of Joan who disguised herself as a man to support rather than use the fact she had hidden herself as a man to become a subject to prove female strength and power, however Suchon recognizes it as a poor example for it is for the actions of deceit effect moral cause.

  14. Chapter XV - On Political Dependence • Sex should have no role in government, only women lack practice in this and for a women as rational creatures, nothing is more painful than to be perpetually dependent. 221 • She criticizes the actions of men who drove Queen Vashti by saying these ‘wise men’ were only full of food and wine and did not want their wives to see her as an example to refuse their husbands obedience and submission; men declaring their mastery over everything everywhere which is not what originally was God’s intention in creation. These earthly powers create fear and respect rather than love and esteem making forced dependence which causes great pain 122 • The dependence of women would be more bearable if it was passive but they are forced to respect the power that destroys them (that being men) and is the great of all difficulties 224 • Suchonclaims that women do not enact upon their own desire to command because it often leads to tyranny and injustice and do not thwart the strength of men out of fear of catalyzing men’s indignation against them. 224 • Despite all this, Men show an appalling contempt for the sex for they believe women will ruin their endeavors and disrupt important matters 225

  15. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Suchon seems to be advocating for advancements in women’s education and agency. However, she makes statements such as “without deviating from the submission they owe to the first sex (p.190)”. Do you find statements such as these contradictory? Do you know of any other examples throughout the readings where Suchon seems to contract herself? 2. In certain cases Suchon uses the scripture from Christianity as examples to support her case of women’s abilities; however, sometimes she uses examples of Greek Mythology to support her claims. Do you think the usage of both Christianity and Greek Mythology could be viewed by some as discrediting to one another? 3. On page 185, Suchon claims that although women should have opportunities to learn they should not “frequent places established for men.” Why do you think Suchon who is requesting the entrance of women in education and governance would still support separate spheres for men and women?

  16. 4. Suchon makes the statement that all kingdoms and rules on Earth are designed and created by GOD. Why bring up pagan examples when discussing female sovereignty? Use pages 206-214 to help you. • 5. What can you take away from the poem at the end of Book One? Can it be treated as simply a summary of the book or is there something more? What can the mood of the poem tell you about Suchon? Pg 227-228 • 6. Why is Suchon saying that women would be in less pain if their dependence was passive? Would it not make more sense for her to claim that women would be deprived of pain if they were deprived of their dependence? Pg 224

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