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natural laws； there was no suspicion that any mischief would result。 In
the light of modern knowledge； however； the case is clear。 The woman
was deprived of the beneficent action of natural selection； and the man
was then； by his own act； freed from the stern but elevating effect of
sexual selection。 Nothing was required of the woman by natural
selection save such capacity as should please her master； nothing was
required of the man by sexual selection save power to take by force； or
buy； a woman。
It does not take a very high standard of feminine intelligence；
strength； skill； health； or beauty to be a houseservant； or even a
housekeeper； witness the average。
It does not take a very high standard of masculine； intelligence；
strength； skill； health or beauty to maintain a woman in that
capacitywitness average。
Here at the very root of our physiological process； at the beginning of
life； we have perverted the order of nature； and are suffering the
consequences。
It has been held by some that man as the selector has developed beauty；
more beauty than we had before； and we point to the charms of our women
as compared with those of the squaw。 The answer to this is that the
squaw belongs to a decadent race； that she too is subject to the man；
that the comparison to have weight should be made between our women and
the women of the matriarchatean obvious impossibility。 We have not on
earth women in a state of normal freedom and full development； but we
have enough difference in their placing to learn that human strength and
beauty grows with woman's freedom and activity。
The second answer is that much of what man calls beauty in woman is not
human beauty at all； but gross overdevelopment of certain points which
appeal to him as a male。 The excessive fatness； previously referred to；
is a case in point； that being considered beauty in a woman which is in
reality an element of weakness； inefficiency and ill…health。 The
relatively small size of women； deliberately preferred； steadfastly
chosen； and so built into the race； is a blow at real human progress in
every particular。 In our upward journey we should and do grow larger；
leaving far behind us our dwarfish progenitors。 Yet the male； in his
unnatural position as selector； preferring for reasons both practical
and sentimental； to have 〃his woman〃 smaller than himself； has
deliberately striven to lower the standard of size in the race。 We used
to read in the novels of the last generation； 〃He was a magnificent
specimen of manhood〃〃Her golden head reached scarcely to his
shoulder〃〃She was a fairy creaturethe tiniest of her sex。〃 Thus we
have mated； and yet expected that by some hocus pocus the boys would all
〃take after their father；〃 and the girls； their mother。 In his efforts
to improve the breed of other animals； man has never tried to
deliberately cross the large and small and expect to keep up the
standard of size。
As a male he is appealed to by the ultra…feminine； and has given small
thought to effects on the race。 He was not designed to do the
selecting。 Under his fostering care we have bred a race of women who
are physically weak enough to be handed about like invalids； or mentally
weak enough to pretend they areand to like it。 We have made women who
respond so perfectly to the force which made them； that they attach all
their idea of beauty to those characteristics which attract men；
sometimes humanly ugly without even knowing it。
For instance； our long restriction to house…limits； the heavy
limitations of our clothing； and the heavier ones of traditional
decorum； have made women disproportionately short…legged。 This is a
particularly undignified and injurious characteristic； bred in women and
inherited by men； most seen among those races which keep their women
most closely。 Yet when one woman escapes the tendency and appears with
a normal length of femur and tibia； a normal height of hip and shoulder；
she is criticized and called awkward by her squatty sisters！
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