a vindication of the rights of woman-第54节
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y differently situated with respect to each otherfor they are all rivals。 Before marriage it is their business to please men； and after； with a few exceptions； they follow the same scent； with all the persevering pertinacity of instinct。 Even virtuous women never forget their sex in company； for they are for ever trying to make themselves AGREEABLE。 A female beauty and a male wit； appear to be equally anxious to draw the attention of the company to themselves； and the animosity of contemporary wits is proverbial。 Is it then surprising； that when the sole ambition of woman centres in beauty； and interest gives vanity additional force； perpetual rivalships should ensue？ They are all running the same race； and would rise above the virtue of mortals if they did not view each other with a suspicious and even envious eye。 An immoderate fondness for dress； for pleasure and for sway； are the passions of savages； the passions that occupy those uncivilized beings who have not yet extended the dominion of the mind； or even learned to think with the energy necessary to concatenate that abstract train of thought which produces principles。 And that women； from their education and the present state of civilized life； are in the same condition； cannot； I think； be controverted。 To laugh at them then； or satirize the follies of a being who is never to be allowed to act freely from the light of her own reason； is as absurd as cruel； for that they who are taught blindly to obey authority； will endeavour cunningly to elude it； is most natural and certain。 Yet let it be proved； that they ought to obey man implicitly； and I shall immediately agree that it is woman's duty to cultivate a fondness for dress； in order to please； and a propensity to cunning for her own preservation。 The virtues； however； which are supported by ignorance； must ever be waveringthe house built on sand could not endure a storm。 It is almost unnecessary to draw the inference。 If women are to be made virtuous by authority； which is a contradiction in terms； let them be immured in seraglios and watched with a jealous eye。 Fear not that the iron will enter into their soulsfor the souls that can bear such treatment are made of yielding materials； just animated enough to give life to the body。 〃Matter too soft a lasting mark to bear； And best distinguish'd by black； brown； or fair。〃 The most cruel wounds will of course soon heal； and they may still people the world； and dress to please manall the purposes which certain celebrated writers have allowed that they were created to fill。 SECTION 13。4。 Women are supposed to possess more sensibility； and even humanity； than men； and their strong attachments and instantaneous emotions of compassion are given as proofs； but the clinging affection of ignorance has seldom any thing noble in it； and may mostly be resolved into selfishness； as well as the affection of children and brutes。 I have known many weak women whose sensibility was entirely engrossed by their husbands； and as for their humanity； it was very faint indeed； or rather it was only a transient emotion of compassion； 〃Humanity does not consist in a squeamish ear；〃 says an eminent orator。 〃It belongs to the mind as well as the nerves。〃 But this kind of exclusive affection； though it degrade the individual； should not be brought forward as a proof of the inferiority of the sex； because it is the natural consequence of confined views： for even women of superior sense； having their attention turned to little employments； and private plans； rarely rise to heroism； unless when spurred on by love； and love as an heroic passion； like genius； appears but once in an age。 I therefore agree with the moralist who asserts； 〃that women have seldom so much generosity as men；〃 and that their narrow affections； to which justice and humanity are often sacrificed； render the sex apparently inferior； especially as they are commonly inspired by men； but I contend； that the heart would expand as the understanding gained strength； if women were not depressed from their cradles。 I know that a little sensibility and great weakness will produce a strong sexual attachment； and that reason must cement friendship； consequently I allow； that more friendship is to be found in the male than the female world； and that men have a higher sense of justice。 The exclusive affections of women seem indeed to resemble Cato's most unjust love for his country。 He wished to crush Carthage； not to save Rome； but to promote its vain glory； and in general； it is to similar principles that humanity is sacrificed； for genuine duties support each other。 Besides； how can women be just or generous； when they are the slaves of injustice。 SECTION 13。5。 As the rearing of children； that is； the laying a foundation of sound health both of body and mind in the rising generation； has justly been insisted on as the peculiar destination of woman； the ignorance that incapacitates them must be contrary to the order of things。 And I contend； that their minds can take in much more； and ought to do so； or they will never become sensible mothers。 Many men attend to the breeding of horses； and overlook the management of the stable； who would； strange want of sense and feeling！ think themselves degraded by paying any attention to the nursery； yet； how many children are absolutely murdered by the ignorance of women！ But when they escape； and are neither destroyed by unnatural negligence nor blind fondness； how few are managed properly with respect to the infant mind！ So that to break the spirit； allowed to become vicious at home； a child is sent to school； and the methods taken there； which must be taken to keep a number of children in order； scatter the seeds of almost every vice in the soil thus forcibly torn up。 I have sometimes compared the struggles of these poor children who ought never to have felt restraint； nor would； had they been always held in with an even hand； to the despairing plunges of a spirited filly； which I have seen breaking on a strand； its feet sinking deeper and deeper in the sand every time it endeavoured to throw its rider； till at last it sullenly submitted。 I have always found horses； an animal I am attached to； very tractable when treated with humanity and steadiness； so that I doubt whether the violent methods taken to break them； do not essentially injure them； I am； however； certain that a child should never be thus forcibly tamed after it has injudiciously been allowed to run wild； for every violation of justice and reason； in the treatment of children； weakens their reason。 And； so early do they catch a character； that the base of the moral character； experience leads me to infer； is fixed before their seventh year； the period during which women are allowed the sole management of children。 Afterwards it too often happens that half the business of education is to correct； and very imperfectly is it done； if done hastily； the faults； which they would never have acquired if their mothers had had more understanding。 One striking instance of the folly of women must not be omitted。 The manner in which they treat servants in the presence of children； permitting them to suppose； that they ought to wait on them； and bear their humours。 A child should always be made to receive assistance from a man or woman as a favour； and； as the first lesson of independence； they should practically be taught； by the example of their mother； not to require that personal attendance which it is an insult to humanity to require； when in health； and instead of being led to assume airs of consequence； a sense of their own weakness should first make them feel the natural equality of man。 Yet； how frequently have I indignantly heard servants imperiously called to put children to bed； and sent away again and again； because master or miss hung about mamma； to stay a little longer。 Thus made slavishly to attend the little idol； all those most disgusting humours were exhibited which characterize a spoiled child。 In short； speaking of the majority of mothers； they leave their children entirely to the care of servants： or； because they are their children； treat them as if they were little demi…gods； though I have always observed； that the women who thus idolize their children； seldom show common humanity to servants； or feel the least tenderness for any children but their own。 It is； however； these exclusive affections； and an individual manner of seeing things； produced by ignorance； which keep women for ever at a stand； with respect to improvement； and make many of them dedicate their lives to their children only to weaken their bodies and spoil their tempers； frustrating also any plan of education that a more rational father may adopt； for unless a mother concurs； the father who restrains will ever be considered as a tyrant。 But； fulfilling the duties of a mother； a woman with a sound constitution； may still keep her person scrupulously neat； and assist to maintain her family； if necessary； or by reading and conversations with both sexes； indiscriminately； improve her mind。 For nature has so wisely ordered things； that did women suckle their children； they would preserve their own health； and there would be such an interval between th
