our androcentric culture-第32章
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maintained 〃struggle for existence；〃 this constant endeavor to eliminate
what； from a masculine standard； is 〃unfit。〃
That we have progressed thus far； that we are now moving forward so
rapidly； is in spite of and not because of our androcentric culture。
OUR ANDROCENTRIC CULTURE； OR； THE MAN…MADE WORLD
XIV。
A HUMAN WORLD。
In the change from the dominance of one sex to the equal power of two；
to what may we look forward？ What effect upon civilization is to be
expected from the equality of womanhood in the human race？
To put the most natural question firstwhat will men lose by it？ Many
men are genuinely concerned about this； fearing some new position of
subservience and disrespect。 Others laugh at the very idea of change in
their position； relying as always on the heavier fist。 So long as
fighting was the determining process； the best fighter must needs win；
but in the rearrangement of processes which marks our age； superior
physical strength does not make the poorer wealthy； nor even the soldier
a general。
The major processes of life to…day are quite within the powers of women；
women are fulfilling their new relations more and more successfully；
gathering new strength； new knowledge； new ideals。 The change is upon
us； what will it do to men？
No harm。
As we are a monogamous race； there will be no such drastic and cruel
selection among competing males as would eliminate the vast majority as
unfit。 Even though some be considered unfit for fatherhood； all human
life remains open to them。 Perhaps the most important feature of this
change comes in right here； along this old line of sex…selection；
replacing that power in the right hands； and using it for the good of
the race。
The woman； free at last； intelligent； recognizing her real place and
responsibility in life as a human being； will be not less； but more；
efficient as a mother。 She will understand that； in the line of
physical evolution； motherhood is the highest process； and that her
work； as a contribution to an improved race； must always involve this
great function。 She will see that right parentage is the purpose of the
whole scheme of sex…relationship； and act accordingly。
In our time； his human faculties being sufficiently developed； civilized
man can look over and around his sex limitations； and begin to see what
are the true purposes and methods of human life。
He is now beginning to learn that his own governing necessity of Desire
is not _the_ governing necessity of parentage； but only a contributory
tendency； and that； in the interests of better parentage； motherhood is
the dominant factor； and must be so considered。
In slow reluctant admission of this fact； man heretofore has recognized
one class of women as mothers； and has granted them a varying amount of
consideration as such； but he has none the less insisted on maintaining
another class of women； forbidden motherhood； and merely subservient to
his desires； a barren； mischievous unnatural relation； wholly aside from
parental purposes； and absolutely injurious to society。 This whole
field of morbid action will be eliminated from human life by the normal
development of women。
It is not a question of interfering with or punishing men； still less of
interfering with or punishing women； but purely a matter of changed
education and opportunity for every child。
Each and all shall be taught the real nature and purpose of motherhood；
the real nature and purpose of manhood； what each is for； and which is
the more important。 A new sense of the power and pride of womanhood
will waken； a womanhood no longer sunk in helpless dependence upon men；
no longer limited to mere unpaid house…service； no longer blinded by the
false morality which subjects even motherhood to man's dominance； but a
womanhood which will recognize its pre…eminent responsibility to the
human race； and live up to it。 Then； with all normal and right
competition among men for the favor of women； those best fitted for
fatherhood will be chosen。 Those who are not chosen will live
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
androcent
