Doctrine of Confucius and Mencius — the Shackle That Keeps Women in Bondage

Abstract

The school of thought represented by Confucius and Mencius has strong contempt for women. It asserts male superiority and female inferiority and holds that women are subordinate to men. Confucius ranted: "Women and inferior men [meaning slaves] are hard to get along with, they get out of hand when befriended and they resent it when kept at a distance." His loyal successor Mencius said: "Do not disobey your husband, because to look upon compliance as their correct course is the rule for women." This meant that women must do as men say and the wife must in no way act against the wishes of her husband.