a vindication of the rights of woman-第50节
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ecessity of educating the sexes together to perfect both； and of making children sleep at home； that they may learn to love home； yet to make private support instead of smothering public affections； they should be sent to school to mix with a number of equals； for only by the jostlings of equality can we form a just opinion of ourselves。 To render mankind more virtuous； and happier of course； both sexes must act from the same principle； but how can that be expected when only one is allowed to see the reasonableness of it？ To render also the social compact truly equitable； and in order to spread those enlightening principles； which alone can meliorate the fate of man； women must be allowed to found their virtue on knowledge； which is scarcely possible unless they be educated by the same pursuits as men。 For they are now made so inferiour by ignorance and low desires； as not to deserve to be ranked with them； or； by the serpentine wrigglings of cunning they mount the tree of knowledge and only acquire sufficient to lead men astray。 It is plain from the history of all nations； that women cannot be confined to merely domestic pursuits； for they will not fulfil family duties； unless their minds take a wider range； and whilst they are kept in ignorance； they become in the same proportion； the slaves of pleasure as they are the slaves of man。 Nor can they be shut out of great enterprises； though the narrowness of their minds often make them mar what they are unable to comprehend。 The libertinism； and even the virtues of superior men； will always give women； of some description； great power over them； and these weak women； under the influence of childish passions and selfish vanity； will throw a false light over the objects which the very men view with their eyes； who ought to enlighten their judgment。 Men of fancy； and those sanguine characters who mostly hold the helm of human affairs； in general； relax in the society of women； and surely I need not cite to the most superficial reader of history； the numerous examples of vice and oppression which the private intrigues of female favourites have produced； not to dwell on the mischief that naturally arises from the blundering interposition of well…meaning folly。 For in the transactions of business it is much better to have to deal with a knave than a fool； because a knave adheres to some plan； and any plan of reason may be seen through much sooner than a sudden flight of folly。 The power which vile and foolish women have had over wise men； who possessed sensibility； is notorious； I shall only mention one instance。 Whoever drew a more exalted female character than Rousseau？ though in the lump he constantly endeavoured to degrade the sex。 And why was he thus anxious？ Truly to justify to himself the affection which weakness and virtue had made him cherish for that fool Theresa。 He could not raise her to the common level of her sex； and therefore he laboured to bring woman down to her's。 He found her a convenient humble companion； and pride made him determine to find some superior virtues in the being whom he chose to live with； but did not her conduct during his life； and after his death； clearly show how grossly he was mistaken who called her a celestial innocent。 Nay； in the bitterness of his heart； he himself laments； that when his bodily infirmities made him no longer treat her like a woman； she ceased to have an affection for him。 And it was very natural that she should； for having so few sentiments in common； when the sexual tie was broken； what was to hold her？ To hold her affection whose sensibility was confined to one sex； nay； to one man； it requires sense to turn sensibility into the broad channel of humanity： many women have not mind enough to have an affection for a woman； or a friendship for a man。 But the sexual weakness that makes woman depend on man for a subsistence； produces a kind of cattish affection； which leads a wife to purr about her husband； as she would about any man who fed and caressed her。 Men； are however； often gratified by this kind of fondness which is confined in a beastly manner to themselves； but should they ever become more virtuous； they will wish to converse at their fire…side with a friend； after they cease to play with a mistress。 Besides； understanding is necessary to give variety and interest to sensual enjoyments； for low； indeed； in the intellectual scale； is the mind that can continue to love when neither virtue nor sense give a human appearance to an animal appetite。 But sense will always preponderate； and if women are not； in general； brought more on a level with men； some superior women； like the Greek courtezans will assemble the men of abilities around them； and draw from their families many citizens； who would have stayed at home； had their wives had more sense； or the graces which result from the exercise of the understanding and fancy； the legitimate parents of taste。 A woman of talents； if she be not absolutely ugly； will always obtain great power； raised by the weakness of her sex； and in proportion as men acquire virtue and delicacy： by the exertion of reason； they will look for both in women； but they can only acquire them in the same way that men do。 In France or Italy have the women confined themselves to domestic life？ though they have not hitherto had a political existence； yet； have they not illicitly had great sway？ corrupting themselves and the men with whose passions they played？ In short； in whatever light I view the subject； reason and experience convince me； that the only method of leading women to fulfil their peculiar duties； is to free them from all restraint by allowing them to participate the inherent rights of mankind。 Make them free； and they will quickly become wise and virtuous； as men become more so； for the improvement must be mutual； or the justice which one half of the human race are obliged to submit to； retorting on their oppressors； the virtue of man will be worm…eaten by the insect whom he keeps under his feet。 Let men take their choice； man and woman were made for each other； though not to become one being； and if they will not improve women； they will deprave them！ I speak of the improvement and emancipation of the whole sex； for I know that the behaviour of a few women； who by accident； or following a strong bent of nature； have acquired a portion of knowledge superior to that of the rest of their sex； has often been over…bearing； but there have been instances of women who； attaining knowledge； have not discarded modesty； nor have they always pedantically appeared to despise the ignorance which they laboured to disperse in their own minds。 The exclamations then which any advice respecting female learning； commonly produces； especially from pretty women； often arise from envy。 When they chance to see that even the lustre of their eyes； and the flippant sportiveness of refined coquetry will not always secure them attention； during a whole evening； should a woman of a more cultivated understanding endeavour to give a rational turn to the conversation； the common source of consolation is； that such women seldom get husbands。 What arts have I not seen silly women use to interrupt by FLIRTATION； （a very significant word to describe such a manoeuvre） a rational conversation； which made the men forget that they were pretty women。 But； allowing what is very natural to manthat the possession of rare abilities is really calculated to excite over…weening pride； disgusting in both men and womenin what a state of inferiority must the female faculties have rusted when such a small portion of knowledge as those women attained； who have sneeringly been termed learned women； could be singular？ Sufficiently so to puff up the possessor； and excite envy in her contemporaries； and some of the other sex。 Nay； has not a little rationality exposed many women to the severest censure？ I advert to well known…facts； for I have frequently heard women ridiculed； and every little weakness exposed； only because they adopted the advice of some medical men； and deviated from the beaten track in their mode of treating their infants。 I have actually heard this barbarous aversion to innovation carried still further； and a sensible woman stigmatized as an unnatural mother； who has thus been wisely solicitous to preserve the health of her children； when in the midst of her care she has lost one by some of the casualties of infancy which no prudence can ward off。 Her acquaintance have observed； that this was the consequence of new…fangled notionsthe new…fangled notions of ease and cleanliness。 And those who； pretending to experience； though they have long adhered to prejudices that have； according to the opinion of the most sagacious physicians； thinned the human race； almost rejoiced at the disaster that gave a kind of sanction to prescription。 Indeed； if it were only on this account； the national education of women is of the utmost consequence； for what a number of human sacrifices are made to that moloch； prejudice！ And in how many ways are children destroyed by the lasciviousness of man？ The want of natural affection in many women； who are drawn from their duty by the admiration of men； and the ignorance of others； render
