A Feminist Austen???

The subject of whether Austen was a feminist or not seems to be popping up a lot right now. So, I will take a moment to address my own thoughts on the matter.

Austen does seem to have feministic qualities ahead of the age she lived in. She definitely had a sarcastic view of men, and she knew a lot of them, so she did write from experience. She once wrote, "Men were put into the world to teach women the law of compromise." I believe that she liked men in general, and celebrated their more amiable qualities. It seems that she only had problems with gentlemen when they suppressed, undervalued, or mocked the gifts and talents that made women special. When the heroines of her novel meet smart, kind young men, she is not afraid of saying that it is good, and a nice thing for the girl. She is also quick to criticize bad behavior and disrespect of others. Good men in her writing are required to be nice to women and to men (Think Darcy and Wickham).

She often speaks slightingly of women who imprison themselves, and do not live according to their full potential. Virtue is rewarded. Look at this passage from Persuasion: "Women of that class have great opportunities, and if they are intelligent may be well worth listening to. Such varieties of human nature as they are in the habit of witnessing! And it is not merely in its follies that they are well read; for they see it occasionally under every circumstance that can be most interesting or affecting. What instances must pass before them of ardent, disinterested, self-denying attachment, of heroism, fortitude, patience, resignation; of all the conflicts and all the sacrifices that ennoble us most." (Chapter 17)

From this I think it may be safe to say that she held both women and men to the same standard of behaviour: To be good, help others find themselves, and avoid suppressing the humanity of other people. Instead of being feminist, she had a desire for all people to value each other, but spoke more of degradation against women because that was an issue of the time. It would be interesting to she what social causes she supported if she were a person in today's world.

Do I think that she was a feminist? Perhaps. I do not really know for sure. I think it is safe to say that Austen was a voice for women, and that she set a precedent for all aspiring feminists. The only way to know for sure would be to ask Jane herself.