our androcentric culture-第5章
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develop humanly； as he has； through social contact； social service； true
social life。 （We may note in passing； her passionate fondness for the
child…game called 〃society〃 she has been allowed to entertain herself
withal； that poor simiacrum of real social life； in which people
decorate themselves and madly crowd together； chattering； for what is
called 〃entertainment。〃） Thus checked in social development； we have
but a low grade motherhood to offer our children； and the children；
reared in the primitive conditions thus artificially maintained； enter
life with a false perspective； not only toward men and women； but toward
life as a whole。
The child should receive in the family； full preparation for his
relation to the world at large。 His whole life must be spent in the
world； serving it well or ill； and youth is the time to learn how。 But
the androcentric home cannot teach him。 We live to…day in a
democracy…the man…made family is a despotism。 It may be a weak one； the
despot may be dethroned and overmastered by his little harem of one； but
in that case she becomes the despotthat is all。 The male is esteemed
〃the head of the family；〃 it belongs to him； he maintains it； and the
rest of the world is a wide hunting ground and battlefield wherein he
competes with other males as of old。
The girl…child； peering out； sees this forbidden field as belonging
wholly to men…kind； and her relation to it is to secure one for
herselfnot only that she may love； but that she may live。 He will
feed； clothe and adorn hershe will serve him； from the subjection of
the daughter to that of the wife she steps； from one home to the other；
and never enters the world at allman's world。
The boy； on the other hand； considers the home as a place of women； an
inferior place； and longs to grow up and leave itfor the real world。
He is quite right。 The error is that this great social instinct；
calling for full social exercise； exchange； service； is considered
masculine； whereas it is human； and belongs to boy and girl alike。
The child is affected first through the retarded development of his
mother； then through the arrested condition of home industry； and
further through the wrong ideals which have arisen from these
conditions。 A normal home； where there was human equality between
mother and father； would have a better influence。
We must not overlook the effect of the proprietary family on the
proprietor himself。 He； too； has been held back somewhat by this
reactionary force。 In the process of becoming human we must learn to
recognize justice； freedom； human rights； we must learn self…control and
to think of others； have minds that grow and broaden rationally； we must
learn the broad mutual interservice and unbounded joy of social
intercourse and service。 The petty despot of the man…made home is
hindered in his humanness by too much manness。
For each man to have one whole woman to cook for and wait upon him is a
poor education for democracy。 The boy with a servile mother； the man
with a servile wife； cannot reach the sense of equal rights we need
to…day。 Too constant consideration of the master's tastes makes the
master selfish； and the assault upon his heart direct； or through that
proverbial side…avenue； the stomach； which the dependent woman needs
must make when she wants anything； is bad for the man； as well as for
her。
We are slowly forming a nobler type of family； the union of two； based
on love and recognized by law； maintained because of its happiness and
use。 We are even now approaching a tenderness and permanence of love；
high pure enduring love； combined with the broad deep…rooted
friendliness and comradeship of equals； which promises us more happiness
in marriage than we have yet known。 It will be good for all the parties
concernedman； woman and child： and promote our general social progress
admirably。
If it needs 〃a head〃 it will elect a chairman pro tem。 Friendship does
not need 〃a head。〃 Love does dot need 〃a head。〃 Why should a family？
OUR ANDROCENTRIC CULTURE； or； THE MAN…MADE WORLD
III。
HEALTH AND BEAUTY。
NOTEThe word 〃Androcentric〃 we owe to Prof。 Lester F。 Ward。 In his
book； 〃Pure Sociology；〃 Chap。 14； he describes the Androcentric Theory
of life； hitherto universally accepted； and introduces his own
〃Gyneacocentric Theory。〃 All who are interested in the deeper
scientific aspects of this question are urged to read that chapter。
Prof。 Ward's theory is to my mind the most important that has been
offered the world since the Theory of Evolution； and without exception
the most important that has ever been put forward concerning women。
Among the many paradoxes which we find in human life is our low average
standard of health and beauty； compared with our power and knowledge。
All creatures suffer from conflict with the elements； from enemies
without and withinthe prowling devourers of the forest； and 〃the
terror that walketh in darkness〃 and attacks the body from inside； in
hidden millions。
Among wild animals generally； there is a certain standard of excellence；
if you shoot a bear or a bird； it is a fair sample of the species； you
do not say； 〃O what an ugly one！〃 or 〃This must have been an invalid！〃
Where we have domesticated any animal； and interfered with its natural
habits； illness has followed； the dog is said to have the most diseases
second to man； the horse comes next； but the wild ones put us to shame
by their superior health and the beauty that belongs to right
development。
In our long ages of blind infancy we assume that sickness was a
visitation frown the gods； some still believe this； holding it to be a
special prerogative of divinity to afflict us in this way。 We speak of
〃the ills that flesh is heir to〃 as if the inheritance was entailed and
inalienable。 Only of late years； after much study and long struggle
with this old belief which made us submit to sickness as a blow from the
hand of God； we are beginning to learn something of the many causes of
our many diseases； and how to remove some of them。
It is still true； however； that almost every one of us is to some degree
abnormal； the features asymmetrical； the vision defective； the digestion
unreliable； the nervous system erraticwe are but a job lot even in
what we call 〃good health〃； and are subject to a burden of pain and
premature death that would make life hideous if it were not so
ridiculously unnecessary。
As to beautywe do not think of expecting it save in the rarely
exceptional case。 Look at the facesthe figuresin any crowd you
meet； compare the average man or the average woman with the normal type
of human beauty as given us in picture and statue； and consider if there
is not some general cause for so general a condition of ugliness。
Moreover； leaving our defective bodies concealed by garments； what are
those garments； as conducive to health and beauty？ Is the practical
ugliness of our men's attire； and the impractical absurdity of our
women's； any contribution to human beauty？ Look at our housesare they
beautiful？ Even the houses of the rich？
We do not even know that we ought to live in a world of overflowing
loveliness； and that our contribution to it should be the loveliest of
all。 We are so sodden in the dull ugliness of our interiors； so used to
calling a tame weary low…toned color scheme 〃good taste；〃 that only
children dare frankly yearn for Beautyand they are speedily educated
out of it。
The reasons specially given for our low standards of health and beauty
are ignorance； poverty； and the evil effects of special trades。 The Man
with the Hoe becomes brother to the ox because of over…much hoeing； the
housepainter is lead…poisoned because of his painting； books have been
written to show the injurious influence of nearly all our industries
upon workers。
These causes are sound as far as they go； but do not cover the whole
ground。
The farmer may be muscle…bound and stooping from his labor； but that
does not account for his dyspepsia or his rheumatism。
Then we allege poverty as covering all。 Poverty does cover a good deal。
But when we find even a half…fed savage b
