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difficult to see on account of the trees。
We have so many Facts on this subject； so many Opinions； so many
Traditions and Habits； and the pressure of Immediate Conclusions is so
intense upon us all； that it is not easy to form a clear space in one's
mind and consider the field fairly。
Possibly the present treatment of the subject will appeal most to the
minds of those who know least about it； such as the Average Woman。 To
her； Industry is a daylong and lifelong duty； as well as a natural
impulse； and economics means going without things。 To such untrained
but also unprejudiced minds it should be easy to show the main facts on
these lines。
Let us dispose of Economics first； as having a solemn scientific
appearance。
Physical Economics treats of the internal affairs of the body； the whole
machinery and how it works； all organs； members； functions； each last
and littlest capillary and leucocyte； are parts of that 〃economy。〃
Nature's 〃economy〃 is not in the least 〃economical。〃 The waste of life；
the waste of material； the waste of time and effort； are prodigious； yet
she achieves her end as we see。
Domestic Economics covers the whole care and government of the
household； the maintenance of peace； health； order； and morality； the
care and nourishment of children as far as done at home； the entire
management of the home； as well as the spending and saving of money； are
included in it。 Saving is the least and poorest part of it； especially
as in mere abstinence from needed things； most especially when this
abstinence is mainly 〃Mother's。〃 How best to spend； time； strength；
love； care； labor； knowledge； and moneythis should be the main study
in Domestic Economics。
Social； or； as they are used to call it； Political Economics； covers a
larger； but not essentially different field。 A family consists of
people； and the Mother is their natural manager。 Society consists of
people_the same people_only more of them。 All the people； who are
members of Society； are also members of familiesexcept some incubated
orphans maybe。 Social Economics covers the whole care and management of
the people； the maintenance of peace and health and order and morality；
the care of children； as far as done out of the home； as well as the
spending and saving of the public moneyall these are included in it。
This great business of Social Economics is at present little understood
and most poorly managed； for this reason； we approach it from an
individual point of view； seeking not so much to do our share in the
common service； as to get our personal profit from the common wealth。
Where the whole family labors together to harvest fruit and store it for
the winter； we have legitimate Domestic Economics： but where one member
takes and hides a lot for himself； to the exclusion of the others； we
have no Domestic Economics at allmerely individual selfishness。
In Social Economics we have a large； but simple problem。 Here is the
earth； our farm。 Here are the people； who own the earth。 How can the
most advantage to the most people be obtained from the earth with the
least labor？ That is the problem of Social Economics。
Looking at the world as if you held it in your hands to study and
discuss； what do we find at present？
We find people living too thickly for health and comfort in some places；
and too thinly for others； we find most people working too hard and too
long at honest labor； some people working with damaging intensity at
dishonest labor； and a few wretched paupers among the rich and poor；
degenerate idlers who do not work at all； the scum and the dregs of
Society。
All this is bad economics。 We do not get the comfort out of life we
easily could； and work far too hard for what we do get。 Moreover； there
is no peace； no settled security。 No man is sure of his living； no
matter how hard he works； a thousand things may occur to deprive him of
his job； or his income。 In our time there is great excitement along
this line of study； and more than one proposition is advanced whereby we
may improve； most notably instanced in the world…covering advance of
Socialism。
In our present study the principal fact to be exhibited is the influence
of a male culture upon Social Economics and Industry。
Industry； as a department of Social Economics； is little understood。
Heretofore we have viewed this field from several wholly erroneous
positions。 From the Hebrew （and wholly androcentric） religious
teaching； we have regarded labor as a curse。
Nothing could be more absurdly false。 Labor is not merely a means of
supporting human lifeit _is_ human life。 Imagine a race of beings
living without labor！ They must be the rudest savages。
Human work consists in specialized industry and the exchange of its
products； and without it is no civilization。 As industry develops；
civilization develops； peace expands； wealth increases； science and art
help on the splendid total。 Productive industry； and its concomitant of
distributive industry cover the major field of human life。
If our industry was normal； what should we see？
A world full of healthy； happy people； each busily engaged in what he or
she most enjoys doing。 Normal Specialization； like all our voluntary
processes； is accompanied by keen pleasure； and any check or
interruption to it gives pain and injury。 Whosoever works at what he
loves is well and happy。 Whoso works at what he does not love is ill
and miserable。 It is very bad economics to force unwilling industry。
That is the weakness of slave labor； and of wage labor also where there
is not full industrial education and freedom of choice。
Under normal conditions we should see well developed； well trained
specialists happily engaged in the work they most enjoyed； for
reasonable hours （any work； or play either； becomes injurious if done
too long）； and as a consequence the whole output of the world would be
vastly improved； not only in quantity but in quality。
Plain are the melancholy facts of what we do see。 Following that
pitiful conception of labor as a curse； comes the very old and
androcentric habit of despising it as belonging to women； and then to
slaves。
As a matter of fact industry is in its origin feminine； that is；
maternal。 It is the overflowing fountain of mother…love and
mother…power which first prompts the human race to labor； and for long
ages men performed no productive industry at all； being merely hunters
and fighters。
It is this lack of natural instinct for labor in the male of our
species； together with the ideas and opinions based on that lack； and
voiced by him in his many writings； religious and other； which have
given to the world its false estimate of this great function； human
work。 That which is our very life； our greatest joy； our road to all
advancement； we have scorned and oppressed； so that 〃working people；〃
the 〃working classes；〃 〃having to work；〃 etc。； are to this day spoken of
with contempt。 Perhaps drones speak so among themselves of the 〃working
bees！〃
Normally； widening out from the mother's careful and generous service in
the family； to careful； generous service in the world； w