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Women's Agency In Classical Economic Thought: Adam Smith, Harriet Taylor Mill, And J. S. Mill

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  • Ronald Bodkin

Abstract

In this paper, the issue of women's agency (defined as the capacity of a female economic agent for rational decision-making) is examined in classical economic thought, with Adam Smith and the Mills taken as case studies. It is concluded that Smith had relatively little confidence in women's independent judgment and hence in their capacity for reasoned decisions on economic matters. By contrast, the Mills, almost alone among classical economists, did trust women to make decisions in their long-run interest. With the arrival of academic feminism in economics, the time is ripe for a reappraisal of such implicit assumptions, and it is concluded that current-day economists would do better to follow the Mills, rather than Adam Smith, on this matter.

Suggested Citation

  • Ronald Bodkin, 1999. "Women's Agency In Classical Economic Thought: Adam Smith, Harriet Taylor Mill, And J. S. Mill," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(1), pages 45-60.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:femeco:v:5:y:1999:i:1:p:45-60
    DOI: 10.1080/135457099338148
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sigot, Nathalie & Beaurain, Christophe, 2009. "John Stuart Mill And The Employment Of Married Women: Reconciling Utility And Justice," Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Cambridge University Press, vol. 31(3), pages 281-304, September.
    2. Giandomenica Becchio, 2018. "Gender, Feminist and Heterodox Economics: Interconnections and Differences in a Historical Perspective," Economic Alternatives, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 1, pages 5-24, March.
    3. Alberto Giordano, 2013. "Free Labour, Free Women. Re-appraising Harriet Taylor?s Feminist Economics," HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT AND POLICY, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2013(2), pages 45-62.
    4. Robert W. Dimand & Evelyn L. Forget & Chris Nyland, 2004. "Retrospectives: Gender in Classical Economics," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 18(1), pages 229-240, Winter.
    5. Michele A. Pujol & Janet A. Seiz, 2000. "Harriet Taylor Mill," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 90(2), pages 476-479, May.

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