"Well then, if it is necessary for both [women and men] to be proficient in the virtue which is appropriate to a human being, that is, for both to be able to have understanding, and self-control, and courage, and justice, the one no less than the other, shall we not teach them both alike the art by which a human being becomes good?" - Musonius Rufus, "Should daughters receive the same education as sons?"
Via That One Should Disdain Hardships: The Teachings of a Roman Stoic edited/translated by Cora Lutz
We often see variations of "it was a different time" to excuse or soften past injustices; but almost always there is someone in that era that already knew then that it was wrong. Rufus was born nearly 2000 years ago and already saw a gender equality of moral worth; while he also held a sexist belief that there were skills/jobs that were inherently better suited for men or women, he did note that "all human tasks ... are a common obligation ... and none is appointed for either one exclusively."
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