按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The most convenient proof of the inferiority of women in human beauty is
shown by those composite statues prepared by Mr。 Sargent for the World's
Fair of '93。 These were made from gymnasium measurements of thousands
of young collegians of both sexes all over America。 The statue of the
girl has a pretty face； small hands and feet； rather nice arms； though
weak； but the legs are too thick and short； the chest and shoulders
poor； and the trunk is quite pitiful in its weakness。 The figure of the
man is much better proportioned。
Thus the effect on human beauty of masculine selection。
Beyond this positive deteriorative effect on women through man's
arbitrary choice comes the negative effect of woman's lack of choice。
Bought or stolen or given by her father； she was deprived of the
innately feminine right and duty of choosing。 〃Who giveth this woman？〃
we still inquire in our archaic marriage service； and one man steps
forward and gives her to another man。
Free； the female chose the victor； and the vanquished went unmatedand
without progeny。 Dependent； having to be fed and cared for by some man；
the victors take their pick perhaps； but the vanquished take what is
left； and the poor women； 〃marrying for a home；〃 take anything。 As a
consequence the inferior male is as free to transmit his inferiority as
the superior to give better qualities； and does sobeyond computation。
In modern days； women are freer； in some countries freer than in others；
here in modern America freest of all； and the result is seen in our
improving standards of health and beauty。
Still there remains the field of inter…masculine competition； does there
not？ Do not the males still struggle together？ Is not that as of old；
a source of race advantage？
To some degree it is。 When life was simple and our activities consisted
mainly in fighting and hard work； the male who could vanquish the others
was bigger and stronger。 But inter…masculine competition ceases to be
of such advantage when we enter the field of social service。 What is
required in organized society is the specialization of the individual；
the development of special talents； not always of immediate benefit to
the man himself； but of ultimate benefit to society。 The best social
servant； progressive； meeting future needs； is almost always at a
disadvantage besides the well…established lower types。 We need； for
social service； qualities quite different from the simple masculine
characteristicsdesire； combat； self…expression。
By keeping what we call 〃the outside world〃 so wholly male； we keep up
masculine standards at the expense of human ones。 This may be broadly
seen in the slow and painful development of industry and science as
compared to the easy dominance of warfare throughout all history until
our own times。
The effect of all this ultra masculine competition upon health and
beauty is but too plainly to be seen。 Among men the male idea of what
is good looking is accentuated beyond reason。 Read about any 〃hero〃 you
please； or study the products of the illustrator and note the broad
shoulders； the rugged features； the strong； square； determined jaw。
That jaw is in evidence if everything else fails。 He may be cross…eyed；
wide…eared； thick…necked； bandy…leggedwhat you please； but he must
have a more or less prognathous jaw。
Meanwhile any anthropologist will show you that the line of human
development is away from that feature of the bulldog and the alligator；
and toward the measured dignity of the Greek type。 The possessor of
that kind of jaw may enable male to conquer male； but does not make him
of any more service to society； of any better health or higher beauty。
Further； in the external decoration of our bodies； what is the influence
here of masculine dominance。
We have before spoken of the peculiar position of our race in that the
woman is the only female creature who carries the burden of sex
ornament。 This amazing reversal of the order of nature results at its
mildest in a perversion of the natural feminine instincts of love and
service； and an appearance of the masculine instincts of self…expression
and display。 Alone among all female things do women decorate and preen
themselves and exhibit their borrowed plumage （literally！） to attract
the favor of the male。 This ignominy is forced upon them by their
position of economic dependence； and their general helplessness。 As all
broader life is made to depend； for them； on whom they marry； indeed as
even the necessities of life so often depend on their marrying someone；
they have been driven into this form of competition； so alien to the
true female attitude。
The result is enough to make angels weepand laugh。 Perhaps no step in
the evolution of beauty went farther than our human power of making a
continuous fabric； soft and mobile； showing any color and texture
desired。 The beauty of the human body is supreme； and when we add to it
the flow of color； the ripple of fluent motion； that comes of a soft；
light garment over free limbsit is a new field of loveliness and
delight。 Naturally this should have filled the whole world with a new
pleasure。 Our garments； first under right natural selection developing
perfect use； under right sex selection developing beauty； and further；
as our human aesthetic sense progresses； showing a noble symbolism；
would have been an added strength and glory； a ceaseless joy。
What is the case？
Men； under a too strictly inter…masculine environment； have evolved the
mainly useful but beautiless costume common to…day； and women？
Women wear beautiful garments when they happen to be the fashion； and
ugly garments when they are the fashion； and show no signs of knowing
the difference。 They show no added pride in the beautiful； no hint of
mortification in the hideous； and are not even sensitive under
criticism； or open to any persuasion or argument。 Why should they be？
Their condition； physical and mental； is largely abnormal； their whole
passionate absorption in dress and decoration is abnormal； and they have
never looked； from a frankly human standpoint； at their position and its
peculiarities； until the present age。
In the effect of our wrong relation on the world's health； we have
spoken of the check to vigor and growth due to the housebound state of
women and their burdensome clothes。 There follow other influences；
similar in origin； even more evil in result。 To roughly and briefly
classify we may distinguish the diseases due to bad air； to bad food；
and that field of cruel mischief we are only now beginning to
discussthe diseases directly due to the erroneous relation between men
and women。
We are the only race where the female depends on the male for a
livelihood。 We are the only race that practices prostitution。 From the
first harmless…looking but abnormal general relation follows the well
recognized evil of the second； so long called 〃a social necessity；〃 and
from it； in deadly sequence； comes the 〃wages of sin；〃 death not only of
the guilty； but of the innocent。 It is no light part of our criticism
of the Androcentric Culture that a society based on masculine