The Subjection of Women

The logos appeal refers to an author’s use of logic and reasoning to support their argument. Logos can take the form of using facts, statistics, data, and/or critical thinking to demonstrate the logic behind a particular claim. Mill states at the beginning of his text that the logic behind Freeing the “Angel in the House” ought to be apparent; however, deep-seated and widespread belief in a gender hierarchy impedes people’s ability to perceive this logic.

Mill’s essay is in part an attempt to excavate this buried logic, and it utilizes logos in various ways. His references to other societies, for example, aim to show the impact of oppression versus liberty—e.g., how Sparta’s practice of allowing women physical exercise proved that they were “not naturally disqualified” from it (24). In describing marriage, Mill methodically details its peculiarities as an institution—e.g., that it allows any man to participate, regardless of capability, and that the laws surrounding it assume the best case scenario rather than protecting against the worst—and suggests that these peculiarities not only produce harmful consequences but also speak to marriage’s true, oppressive function. Mill’s use of logos is perhaps most apparent at the end of The Subjection of Women, when he lists the various benefits women’s full participation in society would have for society overall.