WMNS 1103 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Scientific Racism, Pelvis
14 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
To be excluded from the polis, one must demonstrate a natural difference between men and women to legitimate that exclusion. If social inequalities were to be justified within the framework of enlightenment thought, scientific evidence would have to show that human nature is not uniform, but differs according to race, age and sex. Regarded women and non-european men as deviations from the european male form. Both deployed new methods to measure and discuss difference. Sough natural foundations to justify social inequalities between the sexes and races. Postulated that species were immutable entities arrayed along a fixed and vertical hierarchy stretching from god above down to the lowliest sentient being. Used by 18th century conservatives to stem the levelling tide of democracy and abolitionism. Settled on the ape as the closest to human kind. Wanted to figure out what the lowest form of human was. Voyagers came into contact with african and suggested they resembled apes.
