Why does Swift refer to childbearing women as breeders?

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2026-02-16 22:25

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In "A Modest Proposal," Jonathan Swift uses the term "breeders" to dehumanize the impoverished women of Ireland, reducing them to mere reproductive instruments. This choice of language underscores the severity of their exploitation and the devaluation of their humanity in a society that views them only in terms of their ability to produce children. By employing such a stark term, Swift critiques the callous attitudes of the upper classes towards the poor and highlights the moral degradation within society.

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