Question

What do malthus's arguments especially those on the means of limiting human population growth voluntarily, suggest about views on gender relations? What does he mean in arguing the considerations that lead men not to marry at an early age "almost necessarily, though not absolutely so,[produce] vice"?

Answer 1

Malthus's arguments reflect traditional gender relations and roles, suggesting that postponing marriage could lead to immoral behavior, underscoring the tightly regulated sexual morality of his time.

Step-by-step explanation:

Thomas Malthus's arguments, particularly those about limiting human population growth voluntarily, suggest that he held traditional views on gender relations. Malthus believed in 'moral restraint' as a means of population control, which called for the postponement of marriage and sexual abstinence until one could support a family, inevitably reflecting on gender roles and expectations of chastity.

Malthus's hypothesis that delaying marriage without alternative avenues for sexual release would 'almost necessarily, though not absolutely so, [produce] vice' implies that he believed such restraint could lead to an increase in immoral behavior, likely referring to extra-marital sexual relations. Given that access to birth control and perceptions of reproductive health were very different in his time, such views also touch on his perception of human sexuality and the expectations placed on men (and by extension, women).

The mention of 'vice' in his argument illustrates Malthus's belief that the postponement of marriage and its potential for celibacy were often untenable for men, and he seemed to suggest that these pressures could lead to moral decadence. This stance reveals much about the socio-religious context of his era, where the relationship between sexual conduct, morality, and the social order was strictly regulated.

Answer 2

Answer and Explanation:

Malthus believed that the unrestrained growth of the population would cause a serious environmental imbalance, which would greatly reject the human race. In that case, he says the countries' birthrate should decrease. This would happen if couples did not have children, or had only children that they could support, they were forced by environmental resources. In this case, Mathus stated that the relations between the male and female genders should be severed, people should purposely marry later and remain chaste until marriage, or not, have children until a certain long period of time.