JB/037/120/001

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1823. March 16
Constitut. Code.

Question. Why exclude the whole female sex from all participation
in the Constitutive power?

Answer. Because the proposition against their admission is
at present too general and too to afford any chance for
in favour of a proposal for their admission.

On the ground of the greatest happiness principle the claim
of this sex is if not still better, at least altogether as good as that of the other.

1. The happiness and interest of a person of the female sex constitutes as large
a portion of the universal happiness and interest as does that of
a person of the male sex.

2. No reason can be assigned why a person of the one sex
should as turns up happiness than a person of the other sex.

2. If the possession of a share in the Constitutive power
is a means of

3. Nor therefore, whatsoever be the external means of
happiness, why either should have a less portion of those same
means.

If in this respect there were a difference, the principle of equality could require it should neither be in
favour of the female than of the male sex. This sex being
So many are the causes of suffering which do all attach upon the
male, and do attach upon the female sex: pains of gestation, of parturition
labour of periodical and casual weaknesses, inferiority in all physical
contests with the male sex: loss of reputation in cases where no
such loss attaches upon the male.

5. If the possession of a share share in the Constitutive
power be a means of securing such equal share of the external
means of happiness the reasons why it should be given to the female in favour of it
sex is therefore at least as strong in the case of the female sex
as in the case of the male.

6. By the reciprocal seduction that would mean in the
case of a mixture of sexes in the composition of a legislative
body, and in the texture of the Executive, seems a conclusive reason against admitting the weaker
sex into a share in that branch of power. If The infringement on
equality be regarded as necessary, in regard for the principle of equality thus affords
another reason not only merely for admitting the female sex to an equal share
in the Constitutive, but can
even to a greater share than
in the case of the male.

Identifier: | JB/037/120/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 37.
Date_1	1823-03-16	Marginal Summary Numbering	not numbered
Box	037	Main Headings	constitutional code
Folio number	120	Info in main headings field	constitut. code
Image	001	Titles
Category	text sheet	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering
Penner	jeremy bentham	Watermarks
Marginals	jeremy bentham	Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	11335
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