“This is the fault of man, who is still vain, and wishes to be more important to woman than by right he should be.” The ‘right’ implies a natural ordering that gives females every option and opportunity that males are given, though she does go on to speak of the strengths each gender is geared towards. Fuller writes,
“And knowing that there exists, in the world of men, a tone of feeling towards women as towards slaves, such as is expressed in the common phrase, "Tell that to women and children;" that the infinite soul can only work through them in already ascertained limits; that the prerogative of reason, man's highest portion, is allotted to them in a much lower degree; that it is better for them to be engaged in active labor, which is to be furnished and directed by those better able to think.”
Believing the woman to be the eyes and ears, man to be the back and hands, the separation of both sexes is a slightly less feminist concept than Louisa May Alcott's, which places a woman in the cunning, deceitful literary role so often filled by men. Alcott, simply exchanging a woman for a man, delivers a feminist idea beyond Fuller as she ignores the distinction of strength and weakness, focusing on erasing lines altogether.
Interesting comment. Most think of Fuller as more feminist because LMA is primarily known for Little Women.
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