Criticism Of Women In Plato's Republic

Plato’s Republic provides insight into what Socrates believed to be the ideal society. However, Arlene Saxonhouse critiques the way he portrays women in his society, saying that he “turns women into men.” Saxonhouse goes on to explain that what Socrates does to women, he also does to philosophers by turning them into politicians. I agree with Saxonhouse’s criticism because she exposes the inconsistency in Socrates thinking, however I feel that she does not give enough notice to the overall capabilities of women in politics. Socrates does not fully begin his discussion of women until Book V, where he states that they are allowed to be guardians with men, if they are deemed capable. In Book V, Socrates states “women share by nature in every way of life just as men do, but in all of them women are weaker than men” (Plato 129). So other than the fact that women are slightly weaker, Socrates feels that men and women are no different than a bald man and a man with hair. (Plato 128) He explains that they will go through the same guardian training together, although in the end women will receive somewhat easier tasks.
Since this view was seemingly radical, many people took this to mean that Socrates was actually one of the first feminists. However, Saxonhouse explains that by doing so, he is effectively “de-sexing” women. This is Socrates’
Socrates’ changing perspective on women shifts their role from a private one to a public, political one. Similarly, Socrates also believes that philosophers should be in charge of the kallipolis. This would also be a shift from private to public. Saxonhouse argues, “in the process of becoming politicized the female and the philosopher are removed from their natural environments” (Saxonhouse 206). This goes against Socrates’ central claim that all people must contribute to society while remaining within the walls of their prescribed