Aristotle on Gender

Aristotle investigated three types of relationship which were also closest to each other; master-slave, husband-wife, parent-child. In husband-wife relationship, Aristotle believe that woman's personal wealth automatically became her husband's. Aristotle argued the authority of husband and father is the necessity for the household management. He bring up the subject of marriage " This (marriage relationship) is included because rule is exercised over wife and children – over both of them as free persons, but in other respectss differently: over a wife, rule is as by a statesman." (The Politics, 1259a37. 92). In the perfect household management husband should be act as a statesman in front of his wife in Aristotle's belief. In this belief husband is the ruler and wife is being ruled. However, in my opinion it cannot be possible to create the perfect marriage by one side ruling and the other side ruled. Both men and women should be in the equal conditions in marriage to improve themselves. Aristotle argued also " As between male and female this kind of relationship is permanent. " (The Politics, 1259b17. 92). However, I also disagree with the idea of Aristotle; ruler in the household does not make the relationship permanent, on the contrary the kind of relationship that Aristotle argued can be temporal.
             Another firm views about gender inequality was made by St. Augustine. He approached the issue by the religionist side. He said " If the women was not made to be a helper for the man in generating the children, for what help was she made? " (Political Writings, IX. 5. , 252). Women are more denigrated in the St. Augustine's point of views then Aristotle's. The creation of women by God is just for generating the children and if they couldn't or do not want to have children then they loose their importance for the men. Another point of view against women by Augustine " I do not see, then, how else the woman was made to be a helper for the man, if the reason of generating children is rejected, and I do not know at all why it would be rejected.