our androcentric culture-第29节
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singleperforce。
Many； under the old mistaken notion of what used to be called the
〃social necessity〃 of prostitution； will protest at the idea of its
extinction。
〃It is necessary to have it；〃 they will say。
〃Necessary _to whom？_〃
Not to the women hideously sacrificed to it； surely。
Not to society； honey…combed with diseases due to this cause。
Not to the family； weakened and impoverished by it。
To whom then？ To the men who want it？
But it is not good for them； it promotes all manner of disease； of vice；
of crime。 It is absolutely and unquestionably a 〃social evil。〃
An intelligent and powerful womanhood will put an end to this indulgence
of one sex at the expense of the other； and to the injury of both。
In this inevitable change will lie what some men will consider a loss。
But only those of the present generation。 For the sons of the women now
entering upon this new era of world life will be differently reared。
They will recognize the true relation of men to the primal process； and
be amazed that for so long the greater values have been lost sight of in
favor of the less。
This one change will do more to promote the physical health and beauty
of the race； to improve the quality of children born； and the general
vigor and purity of social life； than any one measure which could be
proposed。 It rests upon a recognition of motherhood as the real base
and cause of the family； and dismisses to the limbo of all outworn
superstition that false Hebraic and grossly androcentric doctrine that
the woman is to be subject to the man； and that he shall rule over her。
He has tried this arrangement long enoughto the grievous injury of the
world。 A higher standard of happiness will result； equality and mutual
respect between parents； pure love； undefiled by self…interests on
either side； and a new respect for Childhood。
With the Child； seen at last to be the governing purpose of this
relation； with all the best energies of men and women bent on raising
the standard of life for all children； we shall have a new status of
family life which will be clean and noble； and satisfying to all its
members。
The change in all the varied lines of human work is beyond the powers of
any present day prophet to forecast with precision。 A new grade of
womanhood we can clearly foresee； proud； strong； serene； independent；
great mothers of great women and great men。 These will hold high
standards and draw men up to them； by no compulsion save nature's law of
attraction。 A clean and healthful world； enjoying the taste of life as
it never has since racial babyhood； with homes of quiet and
contentthis we can foresee。
Artin the extreme sense will perhaps always belong most to men。 It
would seem as if that ceaseless urge to expression； was； at least
originally； most congenial to the male。 But applied art； in every form；
and art used directly for transmission of ideas； such as literature； or
oratory； appeals to women as much； if not more； than to men。
We can make no safe assumption as to what； if any； distinction there
will be in the free human work of men and women； until we have seen
generation after generation grow up under absolutely equal conditions。
In all our games and sports and minor social customs； such changes will
occur as must needs follow upon the rising dignity alloted to the
woman's temperament； the woman's point of view； not in the least denying
to men the fullest exercise of their special powers and preferences； but
classifying these newly； as not humanmerely male。 At present we have
pages or columns in our papers； marked as 〃The Woman's Page〃 〃Of
Interest to Women；〃 and similar delimiting titles。 Similarly we might
have distinctly masculine matters so marked and specified； not assumed
as now to be of general human interest。
The effect of the change upon Ethics and Religion is deep and wide。
With the entrance of women upon full human life； a new principle comes
into prominence； the principle of loving service。 That this is the
governing principle of Christianity is believed by many； but an
androcentric interpretation has quite overlooked it； and made； as we
have shown； the essential dogma of their faith the desire of an eternal
reward and the combat with an eternal enemy。
The feminine attitude in life is wholly different。 As a female she has
merely to be herself and passively attract； neither to compete nor to
pursue； as a mother her whole process is one of growth； first the
development of the live child within her； and the wonderful nourishment
from her own body； and then all the later cultivation to make the child
grow； all the watching； teaching； guarding； feeding。 In none of this is
there either desire； combat； or self…expression。 The feminine attitude；
as expressed in religion； makes of it a patient practical fulfillment of
law； a process of large sure improvements； a limitless comforting love
and care。
This full assurance of love and of power； this endless cheerful service；
the broad provision for all people； rather than the competitive
selection of a few 〃victors；〃 is the natural presentation of religious
truth from the woman's viewpoint。 Her governing principle being growth
and not combat； her main tendency being to give and not to get； she more
easily and naturally lives and teaches these religious principles。 It
is for this reason that the broader gentler teaching of the Unitarian
and Universalist sects have appealed so especially to women； and that so
many women preach in their churches。
This principle of growth； as applied and used in general human life will
work to far other ends than those now so painfully visible。
In education； for instance； with neither reward nor punishment as spur
or bait； with no competition to rouse effort and animosity； but rather
with the feeling of a gardener towards his plants； the teacher will
teach and the children learn； in mutual ease and happiness。 The law of
passive attraction applies here； leading to such ingenuity in
presentation as shall arouse the child's interest； and； in the true
spirit of promoting growth； each child will have his best and fullest
training； without regard to who is 〃ahead〃 of him； or her； or who
〃behind。〃
We do not sadly measure the cabbage…stalk by the corn…stalk； and praise
the corn for getting ahead of the cabbagenor incite the cabbage to
emulate the corn。 We nourish both； to its best growthand are the
richer。
That every child on earth shall have right conditions to make the best
growth possible to it； that every citizen； from birth to death； shall
have a chance to learn all he or she can assimilate； to develop every
power that is in themfor the common goodthis will be the aim of
education； under human management。
In the world of 〃society〃 we may look for very radical changes。
With all women full human beings； trained and useful in some form of
work； the class of busy idlers； who run about forever 〃entertaining〃 and
being 〃entertained〃 will disappear as utterly as will the prostitute。
No woman with real work to do could have the time for such petty
amusements； or enjoy them if she did have time。 No woman with real work
to do； work she loved and was well fitted for； work honored and
well…paid； would take up the Unnatural Trade。 Genuine relaxation and
recreation； all manner of healthful sports and pastimes； beloved of both
sexes to…day； will remain； of course； but the set structure of 〃social
functions〃so laughably misnamedwill disappear with the 〃society
women〃 who make it possible。 Once active members of real Society； no
woman could go back to 〃society；〃 any more than a roughrider could
return to a hobbyhorse。
New development in dress； wise； comfortable； beautiful； may be
confidently expected； as woman becomes more human。 No fully human
creature could hold up its head under the absurdities our women wear
to…dayand have worn for dreary centuries。
So on through all the aspects of life we may look for changes； rapid and
far…reaching； but natural and all for good。 The improvement is not due
to any inherent moral superiority of women； nor to any moral inferiority
of men； men at present； as more human； are ahead of women in all
distinctly human ways； yet their maleness； as we have shown repeatedly；
warps and disfigures their humanness。 The woman； being by nature the
race…type； and her feminine functions being far more akin to human
functions than are those essential to the male； will bring into human
life a more normal influence。
Under this more normal influence our present perversities of functions
will； of course； tend to disappear。 The directly serviceable tendency
of women； as shown in every step of their public work； will have small
patience with hoary traditions of absurdity。 We need but look at long
recorded facts to see what women door try to do； when they have
opportunity。 Even in their crippled； smothered past； they have made
valiant effortsnot always wisein charity and philanthropy。
In our own time this is shown through all the length and breadth of our
country； by the Woman's Clubs。 Little groups of women； drawing together
in human relation； at first； perhaps
