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OUR ANDROCENTRIC CULTURE； or； THE MAN…MADE WORLD
III。
HEALTH AND BEAUTY。
NOTEThe word 〃Androcentric〃 we owe to Prof。 Lester F。 Ward。 In his
book； 〃Pure Sociology；〃 Chap。 14； he describes the Androcentric Theory
of life； hitherto universally accepted； and introduces his own
〃Gyneacocentric Theory。〃 All who are interested in the deeper
scientific aspects of this question are urged to read that chapter。
Prof。 Ward's theory is to my mind the most important that has been
offered the world since the Theory of Evolution； and without exception
the most important that has ever been put forward concerning women。
Among the many paradoxes which we find in human life is our low average
standard of health and beauty； compared with our power and knowledge。
All creatures suffer from conflict with the elements； from enemies
without and withinthe prowling devourers of the forest； and 〃the
terror that walketh in darkness〃 and attacks the body from inside； in
hidden millions。
Among wild animals generally； there is a certain standard of excellence；
if you shoot a bear or a bird； it is a fair sample of the species； you
do not say； 〃O what an ugly one！〃 or 〃This must have been an invalid！〃
Where we have domesticated any animal； and interfered with its natural
habits； illness has followed； the dog is said to have the most diseases
second to man； the horse comes next； but the wild ones put us to shame
by their superior health and the beauty that belongs to right
development。
In our long ages of blind infancy we assume that sickness was a
visitation frown the gods； some still believe this； holding it to be a
special prerogative of divinity to afflict us in this way。 We speak of
〃the ills that flesh is heir to〃 as if the inheritance was entailed and
inalienable。 Only of late years； after much study and long struggle
with this old belief which made us submit to sickness as a blow from the
hand of God； we are beginning to learn something of the many causes of
our many diseases； and how to remove some of them。
It is still true； however； that almost every one of us is to some degree
abnormal； the features asymmetrical； the vision defective； the digestion
unreliable； the nervous system erraticwe are but a job lot even in
what we call 〃good health〃； and are subject to a burden of pain and
premature death that would make life hideous if it were not so
ridiculously unnecessary。
As to beautywe do not think of expecting it save in the rarely
exceptional case。 Look at the facesthe figuresin any crowd you
meet； compare the average man or the average woman with the normal type
of human beauty as given us in picture and statue； and consider if there
is not some general cause for so general a condition of ugliness。
Moreover； leaving our defective bodies concealed by garments； what are
those garments； as conducive to health and beauty？ Is the practical
ugliness of our men's attire； and the impractical absurdity of our
women's； any contribution to human beauty？ Look at our housesare they
beautiful？ Even the houses of the rich？
We do not even know that we ought to live in a world of overflowing
loveliness； and that our contribution to it should be the loveliest of
all。 We are so sodden in the dull ugliness of our interiors； so used to
calling a tame weary low…toned color scheme 〃good taste；〃 that only
children dare frankly yearn for Beautyand they are speedily educated
out of it。
The reasons specially given for our low standards of health and beauty
are ignorance； poverty； and the evil effects of special trades。 The Man
with the Hoe becomes brother to the ox because of over…much hoeing； the
housepainter is lead…poisoned because of his painting； books have been
written to show the injurious influence of nearly all our industries
upon workers。
These causes are sound as far as they go； but do not cover the whole
ground。
The farmer may be muscle…bound and stooping from his labor； but that
does not account for his dyspepsia or his rheumatism。
Then we allege poverty as covering all。 Poverty does cover a good deal。
But when we find even a half…fed savage better developed than a well
paid cashier； and a poor peasant woman a more vigorous mother than the
idle wife of a rich man； poverty is not enough。
Then we say ignorance explains it。 But there are most learned
professors who are ugly and asthmathic； there are even doctors who can
boast no beauty and but moderate health； there are some of the petted
children of the wealthy； upon whom every care is lavished from birth；
and who still are ill to look at and worse to marry。
All these special causes are admitted； given their due share in lowering
our standards； but there is another far more universal in its
application and its effects。 Let us look back on our little ancestors
the beasts； and see what keeps them so true to type。
The type itself set by that balance of conditions and forces we call
〃natural selection。〃 As the environment changes they must be adapted to
it； if they cannot so adapt themselves they die。 Those who live are； by
living； proven capable of maintaining themselves。 Every creature which
has remained on earth； while so many less effective kinds died out；
remains as a conqueror。 The speed of the deerthe constant use of
speedis what keeps it alive and makes it healthy and beautiful。 The
varied activities of the life of a leopard are what have developed the
sinuous gracile strength we so admire。 It is what the creature does for
its living； its daily life…long exercise which makes it what it is。
But there is another great natural force which works steadily to keep
all animals up to the race standard； that is sexual selection。
Throughout nature the male is the variant； as we have already noted。
His energy finds vent not only in that profuse output of decorative
appendages Ward defines as 〃masculine efflorescence〃 but in variations
not decorative； not useful or desirable at all。
The female； on the other hand； varies much less； remaining nearer the
race type； and her function is to select among these varying males the
specimens most valuable to the race。 In the intense masculine
competition the victor must necessarily be stronger than his fellows； he
is first proven equal to his environment by having lived to grow up；
then more than equal to his fellows by overcoming them。 This higher
grade of selection also develops not only the characteristics necessary
to make a living； but secondary ones； often of a purely aesthetic
nature； which make much of what we call beauty。 Between the two； all
who live must be up to a certain grade； and those who become parents
must be above it； a masterly arrangement surely！
Here is where； during the period of our human history； we in our newborn
consciousness and imperfect knowledge； have grieviously interfered with
the laws of nature。 The ancient proprietary family； treating the woman
as a slave； keeping her a prisoner and subject to the will of her
master； cut her off at once from the exercise of those activities which
alone develop and maintain the race type。
Take the one simple quality of speed。 We are a creature built for
speed； a free swift graceful animal； and among savages this is still
seenthe capacity for running； mile after mile； hour after hour。
Running is as natural a gait for _genus homo_ as for _genus cervus。_
Now suppose among deer； the doe was prohibited from running； the stag
continuing free on the mountain； the doe living in caves and pens；
unequal to any exercise。 The effect on the species would be；
inevitably； to reduce its speed。
In this way； by keeping women to one small range of duties； and in most
cases housebound； we have interfered with natural selection and its
resultant health and beauty。 It can easily be seen what the effect on
the race would have been if all men had been veiled and swathed； hidden
in harems； kept to the tent or house； and confined to the activities of
a house…servant。 Our stalwart laborers； our proud soldiers； our
athletes； would never have appeared under such circumstances。 The
confinement to the house alone； cutting women off from sunshine and air；
is by itself an injury； and the range of occupation allowed them is not
such as to develop a high standard of either health or beauty。 Thus we
have cut off half the race from the strengthening influence of natural
selection； and so lowered our race…standards in large degree。
This alone； however； would not have hid such mischievous effects but for
our further blunder in completely reversing nature's order of sexual
selection。 It is quite possible that even under confinement and
restriction women could have kept up the race level； passably； through
this great function of selection； but here is the great fundamental
error of the Androcentric Culture。 Assuming to be the possessor of
women； their owner and master； able at will to give； buy and sell； or do
with as he pleases； man became the selector。
It seems a simple change； and in those early days； wholly ignorant of
natural laws； there was no suspicion that any mischief would result。 In
the light of modern knowledge； however；