ABSTRACT
John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau rely on women and the family to temper the economic isolation and greed resulting from a society based on economic individualism. Modern psychologists, such as Carol Gilligan, argue that a male vision of society caused Locke to see the social contract as being based on a desire to protect property. In addition, a male view of society is embedded in Rousseau’s belief that the proper functioning of the family depends on male domination of women. It can be argued that classical liberalism is built on the subjugation of women and reflects a peculiarly male vision of morality and the proper organization of society.
