WOMEN IN THE IDEAL SOCIETY: UTOPIA AND THE CITY OF THE SUN
İDEAL TOPLUMDA KADIN: UTOPIA VE THE CITY OF THE SUN

Author : Yasemin ŞANAL
Number of pages : 376-386

Abstract

Thomas More’s famous work, “Utopia”, focuses on the perfect society living on the island called Utopia, which means ‘no-place-land’. Since life in Utopia is based on equality, women have many rights in society such as equal education, equal job opportunities, and equal payment. Another celebrated utopia “The City of the Sun”, written by the Italian philosopher Tommaso Campanella, tells of an ideal social life based on equality, as well. Since there is no private ownership in both states, it means that men do not hold any financial superiority over women. Nonetheless, it seems that in these two 'ideal' societies women are not in fact fully equalized. In Utopia, women are allowed to work, read, write, swim, fight, vote, and even become priests. However, women are still inferior to men. Women are separated from men in almost every area of daily life. For example, men and women sit and eat separately, and they sit separately in the temples during prayers. There is a similar situation in The City of the Sun. For here, women and men sit in separate places even when they eat; it is seen that women are kept separate from men as regards to food and drinks, education facilities and working conditions. In these works which could be considered a reaction against the social order in the Renaissance England and Italy, it is seen that although they are given more power and rights, total equality is not possible for women even in the no-place-land.

Keywords

Renaissance, Women, Ideal Society, Utopia, Equality

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