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Students of United States history, seeking to identify the circumstances
that encouraged the emergence of feminist movements, have thoroughly
investigated the mid-nineteenth-century American economic and social condition
that affected the status of women. These historians, however, have analyzed less
fully the development of specifically feminist ideas and activities during the
same period. Furthermore, the ideological origins of feminism in the United
State have been obscured because, even when historians did take into account
those feminist ideas and activities occurring within the United States, they
failed to recognize that feminism was then a truly international movement
actually centered in Europe. American feminist activists who have been described
as “solitary” and “individual theorists” were in reality connected to a movement
— utopian socialism — which was already popularizing feminist ideas in Europe
during the two decades that culminated in the first women’s rights conference
held at Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848. Thus, a complete understanding of the
origins and development of nineteenth-century feminism in the United States
requires that the geographical focus be widened to include Europe and that the
detailed study already made of social conditions be expanded to include the
ideological development of feminism.
The earliest and most popular of the utopian socialists were the
Saint-Simonians. The specifically feminist part of Saint-Simonianism has,
however, been less studied than the group’s contribution to early socialism.
This is regrettable on two counts. By 1832 feminism was the central concern of
Saint-Simonianism and entirely absorbed its adherents’ energy; hence, by
ignoring its feminism, European historians have misunderstood Saint-Simonianism.
Moreover, since many feminist ideas can be traced to saint-simonianism European
historians’ appreciation of later feminism in France and the United States
remained limited.
Saint-Simon’s followers, many of whom were women, based their feminism on
an interpretation of his project to reorganize the globe by replacing brute
force with the rule of spiritual powers. The new world order would be ruled
together by a male, to represent reflection, and a female, to represent
sentiment. This complementarity reflects the fact that, while the
Saint-Simonians did not reject the belief that there were innate differences
between men and women, they nevertheless foresaw an equally important social and
political role for both sexes in their utopia.
Only a few Saint-Simonians opposed a definition of sexual equality based on
gender distinction. This minority believe that individuals of both sexes were
born similar in capacity and character, and they ascribed male-female
differences to socialization and education. The envisioned result of both
currents of thought, however, was that women would enter public life in the new
age and that sexual equality would reward men as well as women with an improved
way of life.
describe early feminists in the United States as “solitary” to be
[A] insufficiently familiar with the international origins of
nineteenth-century American feminist thought.
[B] overly concerned with the regional diversity of feminist ideas in the
period before 1848.
[C] not focused narrowly enough in their geographical scope.
[D] insufficiently aware of the ideological consequences of the Seneca
Falls conference.
2. The author’s attitude toward European historians who have studied the
Saint-Simonians is primarily one of
[A] approval of the specific focus of their research.
[B] disapproval of their lack of attention to the issue that absorbed most
of the Saint-Simonians’ energy after 1832.
[C] approval of their general focus on social conditions.
[D] disapproval of their lack of attention to links between the
Saint-Simonians and their American counterparts.
3. The author mentions all of the following as characteristic of the
Saint-Simonians EXCEPT
[A] The group included many women among its members.
[B] The group believed in a world that would be characterized by sexual
equality.
[C] The group was among the earliest European socialist groups.
[D] Most members believed that women and men were inherently similar in
ability and character.
4. It can be inferred from the text that the Saint-Simonians envisioned a
utopian society having which of the following characteristics?
[A] It would be worldwide.
[B] It would emphasize dogmatic religious principles.
[C] It would most influence the United States.
[D] It would have armies composed of women rather than of men.
5. According to the text, which of the following would be the most accurate
description of the society envisioned by most Saint-Simonians?
[A] A society in which women were highly regarded for their extensive
education.
[B] A society in which the two genders played complementary roles and had
equal status.
[C] A society in which women did not enter public life.
[D] A social order in which a body of men and women would rule together on
the basis of their spiritual power. |
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发表于 2017-8-6 14:08:13