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Why Feminism is Only Possible Thanks to Technology
The cause of feminism, in a nutshell, is defined by the pursuit of better conditions for women in social life and the professional setting.
I would argue that this is only possible in a peaceful society, in a technological and post-industrial society, and in a society with high levels of law and order.
A peaceful society is necessary for the betterment of female conditions, at least initially.
(Here is my behind the paywall link.)
Before democracy went mainstream in the 19th and 20th centuries, democracy, particularly representation in Congress and Parliament, was defined by property ownership and people’s ability to fight in combat for their nation.
This automatically excludes most women from that pool, particularly the military.
This is because the average woman is smaller and physically weaker than the average man.
If a nation is going to fight a war, it will fight with the biggest and meanest people it has at its disposal, which means big, beefy men must go and fight.
This argument obviously applies to prosperous and peaceful nations in Europe and North America.
If we look at the other extreme examples like Afghanistan or Syria, we see women avoiding…