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the association and vice of the base and low…minded women who surrounded
them。
This is a particularly pusillanimous claim in the first place； is not
provable in the second place； and； if it were true； opens up a very
pretty field of study in the third place。 It would seem to prove； if it
proves anything； that men are not fit to be trusted with political power
on account of an alarming affinity for the worst of women； and；
conversely； that women； as commanding the assistance of the best of men；
are visibly the right rulers！ Also it opens a pleasant sidelight on
that oft…recommended tool〃feminine influence。〃
We now come to our opening objection； that society and state； home； and
family； are best served by the present division of interests： and its
corollary； that if women enlarge that field of interest it would reduce
their usefulness in their present sphere。
The corollary is easily removed。 We are now on the broad ground of
established facts； of history； recent； but still achieved。
Women have had equal political rights with men in several places； for
considerable periods of time。 In Wyoming； to come near home； they have
enjoyed this status for more than a generation。 Neither here nor in any
other state or country where women vote； is there the faintest proof of
injury to the home or family relation。 In Wyoming； indeed； divorce has
decreased； while gaining so fast in other places。
Political knowledge； political interest； does not take up more time and
strength than any other form of mental activity； nor does it preclude a
keen efficiency in other lines； and as for the actual time required to
perform the average duties of citizenshipit is a contemptible bit of
trickery in argument； if not mere ignorance and confusion of idea； to
urge the occasional attendance on political meetings； or the annual or
bi…annual dropping of a ballot； as any interference with the management
of a house。
It is proven； by years on years of established experience； that women
can enjoy full political equality and use their power； without in the
least ceasing to be contented and efficient wives and mothers； cooks and
housekeepers。
What really horrifies the popular mind at the thought of women in
politics； is the picture of woman as a 〃practical politician；〃 giving
her time to it as a business； and making money by it； in questionable；
or unquestionable； ways； and； further； as a politician in office； as
sheriff； alderman； senator； judge。
The popular mind becomes suffused with horror at the first idea； and
scarcely less so at the second。 It pictures blushing girlhood on the
Bench； tender motherhood in the Senate； the housewife turned
〃ward…heeler；〃 and becomes quite sick in contemplation of these
abominations。
No educated mind； practical mind； no mind able and willing to use its
faculties； need be misled for a moment by these sophistries。
There is absolutely no evidence that women as a class will rush into
〃practical politics。〃 Where they have voted longest they do not
manifest this dread result。 Neither is there any proof that they will
all desire to hold office； or that any considerable portion of them
will； or that； if they did； they would get it。
We seem unconsciously to assume that when women begin to vote； men will
stop； or that the women will outnumber the men； also that； outnumbering
them； they will be completely united in their vote； and； still further；
that so outnumbering and uniting； they will solidly vote for a ticket
composed wholly of women candidates。
Does anyone seriously imagine this to be likely？
This may be stated with assurance； if ever we do see a clever；
designing； flirtatious； man…twisting woman； or a pretty； charming；
irresistable young girl； elected to officeit will not be by the votes
of women！
Where women are elected to office； by the votes of both men and women；
they are of suitable age and abilities； and do their work well。 They
have already greatly improved some of the conditions of local politics；
and the legislation they advocate is of a beneficial character。
What is the true relation of women to the state？
It is precisely identical with that of men。 Their forms of service may
vary； but their duty； their interest； their responsibility； is the same。
Here are the people on earth； half of them women； all of them her
children。 It is her earth as much as his； the people are their people；
the state their state； compounded of them all； in due relation。
As the father and mother； together； shelter； guard； teach and provide
for their children in the home； so should all fathers and mothers；
together； shelter； guard； teach and provide for their common children；
the community。
The state is no mystery； no taboo place of masculine secrecy； it is
simply us。
Democracy is but a half…grown child as yet； one of twins？ Its boy…half
is a struggling thing； with 〃the diseases of babyhood〃； its girl…half
has hardly begun to take notice。
As human creatures we have precisely the same duty and privilege；
interest； and power in the state； sharing its protection； its
advantages； and its services。 As women we have a different relation。
Here indeed we will admit； and glory in； our 〃diversity。〃 The 〃eternal
womanly〃 is a far more useful thing in the state than the 〃eternal
manly。〃
To be woman means to be mother。 To be mother means to give love；
defense； nourishment； care； instruction。 Too long； far too long has
motherhood neglected its real social duties； its duties to humanity at
large。 Even in her position of retarded industrial development； as the
housekeeper and houseworker of the world； woman has a contribution of
special value to the state。
As the loving mother； the patient teacher； the tender nurse； the wise
provider and care…taker； she can serve the state； and the state needs
her service。
OUR ANDROCENTRIC CULTURE； OR； THE MAN…MADE WORLD
XIII。
INDUSTRY AND ECONOMICS。
The forest of Truth； on the subject of industry and economics； is
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。
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