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have all this time called 〃human nature〃 and deprecated； was in great
part only male nature； and good enough in its place； that what we have
called 〃masculine〃 and admired as such； was in large part human； and
should be applied to both sexes： that what we have called 〃feminine〃 and
condemned； was also largely human and applicable to both。 Our
androcentric culture is so shown to have been； and still to be； a
masculine culture in excess； and therefore undesirable。
In the preliminary work of approaching these facts it will be well to
explain how it can be that so wide and serious an error should have been
made by practically all men。 The reason is simply that they were men。
They were males； avid saw women as femalesand not otherwise。
So absolute is this conviction that the man who reads will say； 〃Of
course！ How else are we to look at women except as females？ They are
females； aren't they？〃 Yes； they are； as men are males unquestionably；
but there is possible the frame of mind of the old marquise who was
asked by an English friend how she could bear to have the footman serve
her breakfast in bedto have a man in her bed…chamberand replied
sincerely； 〃Call you that thing there a man？〃
The world is full of men； but their principal occupation is human work
of some sort； and women see in them the human distinction
preponderantly。 Occasionally some unhappy lady marries her
coachmanlong contemplation of broad shoulders having an effect；
apparently； but in general women see the human creature most； the male
creature only when they love。
To the man； the whole world was his world； his because he was male； and
the whole world of woman was the home； because she was female。 She had
her prescribed sphere； strictly limited to her feminine occupations and
interests； he had all the rest of life； and not only so； but； having it；
insisted on calling it male。
This accounts for the general attitude of men toward the now rapid
humanization of women。 From her first faint struggles toward freedom
and justice； to her present valiant efforts toward full economic and
political equality； each step has been termed 〃unfeminine〃 and resented
as an intrusion upon man's place and power。 Here shows the need of our
new classification； of the three distinct fields of lifemasculine；
feminine and human。
As a matter of fact； there is a 〃woman's sphere；〃 sharply defined and
quite different from his； there is also a 〃man's sphere；〃 as sharply
defined and even more limited； but there remains a common spherethat
of humanity； which belongs to both alike。
In the earlier part of what is known as 〃the woman's movement；〃 it was
sharply opposed on the ground that women would become 〃unsexed。〃 Let us
note in passing that they have become unsexed in one particular； most
glaringly so； and that no one has noticed or objected to it。
As part of our androcentric culture we may point to the peculiar
reversal of sex characteristics which make the human female carry the
burden of ornament。 She alone； of all human creatures； has adopted the
essentially masculine attribute of special sex…decoration； she does not
fight for her mate as yet； but she blooms forth as the peacock and bird
of paradise； in poignant reversal of nature's laws； even wearing
masculine feathers to further her feminine ends。
Woman's natural work as a female is that of the mother； man's natural
work as a male is that of the father； their mutual relation to this end
being a source of joy and well…being when rightly held： but human work
covers all our life outside of these specialties。 Every handicraft；
every profession； every science； every art； all normal amusements and
recreations； all government； education； religion； the whole living world
of human achievement： all this is human。
That one sex should have monopolized all human activities； called them
〃man's work；〃 and managed them as such； is what is meant by the phrase
〃Androcentric Culture。〃
OUR ANDROCENTRIC CULTURE； or； THE MAN…MADE WORLD
II。
THE MAN…MADE FAMILY。
The family is older than humanity； and therefore cannot be called a
human institution。 A post office； now； is wholly human； no other
creature has a post office； but there are families in plenty among birds
and beasts； all kinds permanent and transient； monogamous； polygamous
and polyandrous。
We are now to consider the growth of the family in humanity； what is its
rational development in humanness； in mechanical； mental and social
lines； in the extension of love and service； and the effect upon it of
this strange new arrangementa masculine proprietor。
Like all natural institutions the family has a purpose； and is to be
measured primarily as it serves that purpose； which is； the care and
nurture of the young。 To protect the helpless little ones； to feed and
shelter them； to ensure them the benefits of an ever longer period of
immaturity； and so to improve the racethis is the original purpose of
the family。
When a natural institution becomes human it enters the plane of
consciousness。 We think about it； and； in our strange new power of
voluntary action do things to it。 We have done strange things to the
family； or； more specifically； men have。
Balsac； at his bitterest； observed； 〃Women's virtue is man's best
invention。〃 Balsac was wrong。 Virtuethe unswerving devotion to one
mateis common among birds and some of the higher mammals。 If Balsac
meant celibacy when he said virtue； why that is one of man's
inventionsthough hardly his best。
What man has done to the family； speaking broadly； is to change it from
an institution for the best service of the child to one modified to his
own service； the vehicle of his comfort； power and pride。
Among the heavy millions of the stirred East； a childnecessarily a
male childis desired for the credit and glory of the father； and his
fathers； in place of seeing that all a parent is for is the best service
of the child。 Ancestor worship； that gross reversal of all natural law；
is of wholly androcentric origin。 It is strongest among old patriarchal
races； lingers on in feudal Europe； is to be traced even in America
today in a few sporadic efforts to magnify the deeds of our ancestors。
The best thing any of us can do for our ancestors is to be better than
they were； and we ought to give our minds to it。 When we use our past
merely as a guide…book； and concentrate our noble emotions on the
present and future； we shall improve more rapidly。
The peculiar changes brought about in family life by the predominance of
the male are easily traced。 In these studies we must keep clearly in
mind the basic masculine characteristics： desire； combat；
self…expressionall legitimate and right in proper use； only
mischievous when excessive or out of place。 Through them the male is
led to strenuous competition for the favor of the female； in the
overflowing ardours of song； as in nightingale and tomcat； in wasteful
splendor of personal decoration； from the pheasant's breast to an
embroidered waistcoat； and in direct struggle for the prize； from the
stag's locked horns to the clashing spears of the tournament。
It is earn