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serve; to guard and guide and help; are well in line with motherhood。
〃Are they not also in line with fatherhood?〃 will be asked; and; 〃Are
not the father's paternal instincts masculine?〃
No; they are not; they differ in no way from the maternal; in so far as
they are beneficial。 Parental functions of the higher sort; of the
human sort; are identical。 The father can give his children many
advantages which the mother can not; but that is due to his superiority
as a human being。 He possesses far more knowledge and power in the
world; the human world; he himself is more developed in human powers and
processes; and is therefore able to do much for his children which the
mother can not; but this is in no way due to his masculinity。 It is in
this development of human powers in man; through fatherhood; that we may
read the explanation of our short period of androcentric culture。
So thorough and complete a reversal of previous relation; such
continuance of what appears in every way an unnatural position; must
have had some justification in racial advantages; or it could not have
endured。 This is its justification; the establishment of humanness in
the male; he being led into it; along natural lines; by the exercise of
previously existing desires。
In a male culture the attracting forces must inevitably have been; we
have seen; Desire and Combat。 These masculine forces; acting upon human
processes; while necessary to the uplifting of the man; have been
anything but uplifting to civilization。 A sex which thinks; feels and
acts in terms of combat is difficult to harmonize in the smooth bonds of
human relationship; that they have succeeded so well is a beautiful
testimony to the superior power of race tendency over sex tendency。
Uniting and organizing; crudely and temporarily; for the common hunt;
and then; with progressive elaboration; for the common fight; they are
now using the same tacticsand the same desires; unfortunatelyin
common work。
Union; organization; complex interservice; are the essential processes
of a growing society; in them; in the ever…increasing discharge of power
along widening lines of action; is the joy and health of social life。
But so far men combine in order to better combat; the mutual service
held incidental to the common end of conquest and plunder。
In spite of this the overmastering power of humanness is now developing
among modern men immense organizations of a wholly beneficial character;
with no purpose but mutual advantage。 This is true human growth; and as
such will inevitably take the place of the sex…prejudiced earlier
processes。
The human character of the Christian religion is now being more and more
insisted on; the practical love and service of each and all; in place of
the old insistence on Desirefor a Crown and Harp in Heaven; and
Combatwith that everlasting adversary。
In economics this great change is rapidly going on before our eyes。 It
is a change in idea; in basic concept; in our theory of what the whole
thing is about。 We are beginning to see the world; not as 〃a fair field
and no favor〃not a place for one man to get ahead of others; for a
price; but as an establishment belonging to us; the proceeds of which
are to be applied; as a matter of course; to human advantage。
In the old idea; the wholly masculine idea; based on the processes of
sex…combat; the advantage of the world lay in having 〃the best man win。〃
Some; in the first steps of enthusiasm for Eugenics; think so still;
imagining that the primal process of promoting evolution through the
paternity of the conquering male is the best process。
To have one superior lion kill six or sixty inferior lions; and leave a
progeny of more superior lions behind him; is all rightfor lions; the
superiority in fighting being all the superiority they need。
But the man able to outwit his follows; to destroy them in physical; or
ruin in financial; combat; is not therefore a superior human creature。
Even physical superiority; as a fighter; does not prove the kind of
vigor best calculated to resist disease; or to adapt itself to changing
conditions。
That our masculine culture in its effect on Economics and Industry is
injurious; is clearly shown by the whole open page of history。 From the
simple beneficent activities of a matriarchal period we follow the same
lamentable steps; nation after nation。 Women are enslaved and captives
are enslaved; a military despotism is developed; labor is despised and
discouraged。 Then when the irresistible social forces do bring us
onward; in science; art; commerce; and all that we call civilization; we
find the same check acting always upon that progress; and the really
vital social processes of production and distribution heavily injured by
the financial combat and carnage which rages ever over and among them。
The real development of the people; the forming of finer physiques;
finer minds; a higher level of efficiency; a broader range of enjoyment
and accomplishmentis hindered and not helped by this artificially
maintained 〃struggle for existence;〃 this constant endeavor to eliminate
what; from a masculine standard; is 〃unfit。〃
That we have progressed thus far; that we are now moving forward so
rapidly; is in spite of and not because of our androcentric culture。
OUR ANDROCENTRIC CULTURE; OR; THE MAN…MADE WORLD
XIV。
A HUMAN WORLD。
In the change from the dominance of one sex to the equal power of two;
to what may we look forward? What effect upon civilization is to be
expected from the equality of womanhood in the human race?
To put the most natural question firstwhat will men lose by it? Many
men are genuinely concerned about this; fearing some new position of
subservience and disrespect。 Others laugh at the very idea of change in
their position; relying as always on the heavier fist。 So long as
fighting was the determining process; the best fighter must needs win;
but in the rearrangement of processes which marks our age; superior
physical strength does not make the poorer wealthy; nor even the soldier
a general。
The major processes of life to…day are quite within the powers of women;
women are fulfilling their new relations more and more successfully;
gathering new strength; new knowledge; new ideals。 The change is upon
us; what will it do to men?
No harm。
As we are a monogamous race; there will be no such drastic and cruel
selection among competing males as would eliminate the vast majority as
unfit。 Even though some be considered unfit for fatherhood; all human
life remains open to them。 Perhaps the most important feature of this
change comes in right here; along this old line of sex…selection;
replacing that power in the right hands; and using it for the good of
the race。
The woman; free at last; intelligent; recognizing her real place and
responsibility in life as a human being; will be not less; but more;
efficient as a mother。 She will understand that; in the line of
physical evolution; motherhood is the highest process; and that her
work; as a contribution to an improved race; must always involve this
great function。 She will see that right parentage is the purpose of the
whole scheme of sex…relationship; and act accordingly。
In our time; his human faculties being sufficiently developed; civilized
man can look over and around his sex limitations; and begin to see what
are the true purposes and methods of human life。
He is now beginning to learn that his own governing necessity of Desire
is not _the_ governing necessity of parentage; but only a contributory
tendency; and that; in the interests of better parentage; motherhood is
the dominant factor; and must be so considered。
In slow reluctant admission of this fact; man heretofore has recognized
one class of women as mothers; and has granted them a varying amount of
consideration as such; but he has none the less insisted on maintaining
another class of women; forbidden motherhood; and merely subservient to
his desires; a barren; mischievous unnatural relation; wholly aside from
parental purposes; and absolutely injurious to society。 This whole
field of morbid action will be eliminated from human life by the normal
development of women。
It is not a question of interfering with or punishing men; still less of
interfering with or punishing women; but purely a matter of changed
education and opportunity for every child。
Each and all shall be taught the real nature and purpose of motherhood;
the real nature and purpose of manhood; what each is for; and which is
the more important。 A new sense of the power and pride of womanhood
will waken; a womanhood no longer sunk in helpless dependence upon men;
no longer limited to mere unpaid house…service; no longer blinded by the
false morality which subjects even motherhood to man's dominance; but a
womanhood which will recognize its pre…eminent responsibility to the
human race; and live up to it。 Then; with all normal and right
competition among men for the favor of women; those best fitted for
fatherhood will be chosen。 Those who are not chosen will live
singleperforce。
Many; under the old mistaken notion