How did traditional Western philosophy portray women in comparison with men?

In the history of Western philosophy, women were traditionally portrayed as inferior to men, often characterized as irrational, emotional, unintelligent, and morally immature. These disparaging views were frequently used to rationalize women's lower social status and their systematic exclusion from public life.1

Because the paradigmatic philosopher was historically conceived as highly rational, dispassionate, and independent, the female philosopher was often viewed as a contradiction in terms. Consequently, gender bias became embedded in the qualifications for the profession, leading to the omission of women's contributions and concerns from the philosophical canon until the late 20th century.1

While some early exceptions existed, such as Plato’s Republic and John Stuart Mill’s The Subjection of Women, these were rare. Feminist philosophers have since argued that these historical attitudes not only marginalized women but also fundamentally shaped the discipline’s focus, assumptions, and methods to reflect a male-biased perspective.12