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Locke’s ideas were influential, but they were not universally accepted. Some Enlightenment thinkers, such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, argued that women were inferior to men. Rousseau believed that women were naturally more emotional and irrational than men, and that they should be kept in a subordinate position.

The Enlightenment also saw a change in attitudes towards racial difference. Prior to the Enlightenment, it was widely believed that there were different races of humans, each with its own distinct characteristics. These characteristics were often seen as being hierarchical, with some races being considered superior to others.

The Enlightenment challenged this view of race. Enlightenment thinkers argued that all humans were members of the same species, and that there were no significant biological differences between races. They also argued that racial differences were largely due to environmental factors, such as climate and culture.

The Enlightenment’s ideas about sexual and racial difference had a profound impact on Western society. These ideas helped to pave the way for the modern women’s rights movement and the abolition of slavery. However, the Enlightenment’s legacy is also complex and contested. Some argue that the Enlightenment’s emphasis on reason and individualism led to the development of a Eurocentric worldview that has been used to justify colonialism and exploitation.

Despite these challenges, the Enlightenment’s ideas about sexual and racial difference remain important. They continue to inspire people to fight for equality and justice.

Here are some additional details about Enlightenment attitudes towards sexual and racial difference:

• Sexual difference: Enlightenment thinkers generally believed that men and women were fundamentally different. They argued that these differences were rooted in biology, and that they had a significant impact on the roles that men and women played in society.
• Racial difference: Enlightenment thinkers generally believed that all humans were members of the same species. However, they also believed that there were significant differences between races. These differences were often seen as being hierarchical, with some races being considered superior to others.
• The impact of the Enlightenment: The Enlightenment’s ideas about sexual and racial difference had a profound impact on Western society. These ideas helped to pave the way for the modern women’s rights movement and the abolition of slavery. However, the Enlightenment’s legacy is also complex and contested. Some argue that the Enlightenment’s emphasis on reason and individualism led to the development of a Eurocentric worldview that has been used to justify colonialism and exploitation.

The Enlightenment was a time of great intellectual ferment, and its ideas about sexual and racial difference were no exception. These ideas were often contradictory and contested, but they helped to shape the modern world.