What was John Locke's attitudes to women's rights?

When comparing John Locke to other philosophers such as Hobbes, one sees that throughout his writing of the Second Treatise of Government, Locke gives important status to women. Locke establishes the status through the arguments that women are not property, women still retain power over children in the absence of the father, women are capable of leaving the compact of marriage and finally that women are to be honored and respected by children. read more

John Locke’s attitude toward women's rights was very forward thinking for his time. He was very critical of thinkers who took it for granted that mothers should be shown less respect than fathers, for example. read more