By S. Foley

This examine explores the meanings ascribed to sexual ameliorations inside early nineteenth century French socialism, and the consequences of such definitions for girls. via a close exam of the theories of Charles Fourier, the Saint-Simonians and plant life Tristan, it illustrates how gender differences supplied a device of social feedback and a picture of the idealized destiny. Love and sympathy have been assigned because the traits of "the feminine", therefore justifying women's social participation along males. moreover, those features gave "the female" a symbolic importance within the venture of ethical and social renewal, evoking the specified global of concord and co-operation. instead of rejecting the binary contrast among masculine and female which used to be gaining new value of their society, hence, socialists challenged the worth it ascribed to every intercourse and the jobs it legitimated. despite the fact that, the accentuation of intercourse variations additionally circumscribed the chances for lady "liberty" and self-definition of their personal society, and within the excellent worlds they envisaged.

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Extra info for French Socialism and Sexual Difference: Women and the New Society, 1803-44

Sample text

He finally completed his 'great treatise' in 1819 but it was never published in full. In particular, the sexual aspects of his theory remained largely unknown until 1967 because Fourier became increasingly aware of the need for selfcensorship, and began to be more discreet about the amorous innovations he envisaged: The details of this amorous code would fill several long chapters but the hypocrisy of our morals has forbidden me to publish them. That is why everything that deals with the accords of love has had to remain very incomplete.

Having established the composition of the major and minor spheres, Fourier examined their relationship to each other, and defended the need for 'masculine' predominance over the 'feminine' element. The major passions should enjoy a 'slight edge' over the minor passions, he argued. They should 'take precedence, to set the lead for the other 2 . ': ... Love and family attachment, so harmful today, so estranged from the laws of Honour and Friendship, will have to comply with these constantly in Harmony so as to leave to the hvo majors the superiority of 1/21 in the general balance .

The groups of family attachment and love belong to the minor order, because the material principle is dominant there, especially in that of family attachment which is firmly governed by the material element, since one cannot break the ties of blood . . The group of love, although strongly governed by the material principle is not its slave: the spiritual principle is sometimes dominant in the bond of love . . Thus this group is the nobler of the two minors. The group of friendship is almost entirely devoid of the material [element]; ...

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