our androcentric culture-第20章
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was invented。 The Oriental veil is worn by women； but it is not for any
need of theirs that veils were decreed them。
When we look at society in its earlier form we find that the public
house has always been with us。 It is as old almost as the private
house； the need for association is as human as the need for privacy。
But the public house wasand isfor men only。 The woman was kept as
far as possible at home。 Her female nature was supposed to delimit her
life satisfactorily； and her human stature was completely ignored。
Under the pressure of that human nature she has always rebelled at the
social restrictions which surrounded her； and from the women of older
lands gathered at the well； or in the market place； to our own women on
the church steps or in the sewing circle； they have ceaselessly
struggled for the social intercourse which was as much a law of their
being as of man's。
When we come to the modern special field that we call 〃society；〃 we find
it to consist of a carefully arranged set of processes and places
wherein women may meet one another and meet men。 These vary； of course；
with race； country； class； and period； from the clean licence of our
western customs to the strict chaperonage of older lands； but free as it
is in America； even here there are bounds。
Men associate without any limit but that of inclination and financial
capacity。 Even class distinction only works one waythe low…class man
may not mingle with high…class women； but the high…class man mayand
doesmingle with low…class women。 It is his societymay not a man do
what he will with his own？
Caste distinctions； as have been ably shown by Prof。 Lester F。 Ward； are
relics of race distinction； the subordinate caste was once a subordinate
race； and while mating； upward； was always forbidden to the subject
race； mating； downward； was always practiced by the master race。
The elaborate shading of 〃the color line〃 in slavery days； from pure
black up through mulatto； quadroon； octoroon； quinteroon； griffada；
mustafee； mustee； and sang d'orto white again； was not through white
mothersbut white fathers； never too exclusive in their tastes。 Even
in slavery； the worst horrors were strictly androcentric。
〃Society〃 is strictly guardedthat is its women are。 As always； the
main tabu is on the woman。 Consider carefully the relation between
〃society〃 and the growing girl。 She must； of course； marry； and her
education； manners； character； must of course be pleasing to the
prospective wooer。 That which is desirable in young girls means；
naturally； that which is desirable to men。 Of all cultivated
accomplishments the first is 〃innocence。〃 Beauty may or may not be
forthcoming； but 〃innocence〃 is 〃the chief charm of girlhood。〃
Why？ What good does it do _her？_ Her whole life's success is made to
depend on her marrying； her health and happiness depends on her marrying
the right man。 The more 〃innocent〃 she is； the less she knows； the
easier it is for the wrong man to get her。
As is so feelingly described in 〃The Sorrows of Amelia；〃 in 〃The Ladies'
Literary Cabinet；〃 a magazine taken by my grandmother； 〃The only foible
which the delicate Amelia possessed was an unsuspecting breast to lavish
esteem。 Unversed in the secret villanies of a base degenerate world；
she ever imagined all mankind to be as spotless as herself。 Alas for
Amelia！ This fatal credulity was the source of all her misfortunes。〃
It was。 It is yet。
Just face the facts with new eyeslook at it as if you had never seen
〃society〃 before； and observe the position of its 〃Queen。〃
Here is Woman。 Let us grant that Motherhood is her chief purpose。 （As
a female it is。 As a human being she has others！） Marriage is our way
of safeguarding motherhood； of ensuring 〃support〃 and 〃protection〃 to
the wife and children。
〃Society〃 is very largely used as a means to bring together young
people； to promote marriage。 If 〃society〃 is made and governed by women
we should naturally look to see its restrictions and encouragements such
as would put a premium on successful maternity and protect womenand
their childrenfrom the evils of ill…regulated fatherhood。
Do we find this？ By no means。
〃Society〃 allows the man all libertyall privilegeall license。 There
are certain offences which would exclude him； such as not paying
gambling debts； or being poor； but offences against womanhoodagainst
motherhooddo not exclude him。
How about the reverse？
If 〃society〃 is made by women； for women； surely a misstep by a
helplessly 〃innocent〃 girl； will not injure her standing！
But it does。 She is no longer 〃innocent。〃 She knows now。 She has lost
her market value and is thrown out of the shop。 Why not？ It is his
shopnot hers。 What women may and may not be； what they must and must
not do； all is measured from the masculine standard。
A really feminine 〃society〃 based on the needs and pleasures of women；
both as females and as human beings； would in the first place accord
them freedom and knowledge； the knowledge which is power。 It would not
show us 〃the queen of the ballroom〃 in the position of a wall…flower
unless favored by masculine invitation； unable to eat unless he brings
her something； unable to cross the floor without his arm。 Of all blind
stultified 〃royal sluggards〃 she is the archetype。 No； a feminine
society would grant _at least_ equality to women in this； their
so…called special field。
Its attitude toward men； however； would be rigidly critical。
Fancy a real Mrs。 Grundy （up to date it has been a Mr。； his whiskers hid
in capstrings） saying； 〃No； no； young man。 You won't do。 You've been
drinking。 The habit's growing on you。 You'll make a bad husband。〃
Or still more severely； 〃Out with you； sir！ You've forfeited your right
to marry！ Go into retirement for seven years； and when you come back
bring a doctor's certificate with you。〃
That sounds ridiculous； doesn't itfor 〃Society〃 to say？ It is
ridiculous； in a man's 〃society。〃
The required dress and decoration of 〃society〃； the everlasting eating
and drinking of 〃society；〃 the preferred amusements of 〃society；〃 the
absolute requirements and absolute exclusions of 〃society；〃 are of men；
by men； for men；to paraphrase a threadbare quotation。 And then； upon
all that vast edifice of masculine influence； they turn upon women as
Adam did； and blame _them_ for severity with their fallen sisters！
〃Women are so hard upon women！〃
They have to be。 What man would 〃allow〃 his wife； his daughters； to
visit and associate with 〃the fallen〃？ His esteem would be forfeited；
they would lose their 〃social position；〃 the girl's chance of marrying
would be gone。
Men are not so stern。 They may visit the unfortunate women； to bring
them help； sympathy； re…establishmentor for other reasons； and it does
not forfeit their social position。 Why should it？ They make the
regulation。
Women are to…day； far more conspicuously than men； the exponents and
victims of that mysterious power we call 〃Fashion。〃 As shown in mere
helpless imitation of one another's idea； customs； methods； there is not
much difference； in patient acquiescence with prescribed models of
architecture； furniture； literature； or anything else； there is not much
difference； but in personal decoration there is a most conspicuous
difference。 Women do to…day submit to more grotesque ugliness and
absurdity than men； and there are plenty of good reasons for it。
Confining our brief study of fashion to fashion in dress； let us observe
why it is that women wear these fine clothes at all； and why they change
them as they do。
First； and very clearly； the human female carries the weight of sex
decoration； solely because of her economic dependence on the male。 She
alone in nature adds to the burdens of maternity； which she was meant
for； this unnatural burden of ornament； which she was not meant for。
Every other female in the world is sufficiently attractive to the male
without trimmings。 He carries the trimmings； sparing no expense of
spreading antlers or trailing plumes； no monstrosity of crest and
wattles； to win her favor。
She is only temporarily intereste
