a vindication of the rights of woman-第44章
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he majority of both sexes resemble； and equally show a want of taste and modesty。 Ignorant women； forced to be chaste to preserve their reputation； allow their imagination to revel in the unnatural and meretricious scenes sketched by the novel writers of the day； slighting as insipid the sober dignity and matronly grace of history；* whilst men carry the same vitiated taste into life； and fly for amusement to the wanton； from the unsophisticated charms of virtue； and the grave respectability of sense。 （*Footnote。 I am not now alluding to that superiority of mind which leads to the creation of ideal beauty； when life surveyed with a penetrating eye； appears a tragi…comedy； in which little can be seen to satisfy the heart without the help of fancy。） Besides； the reading of novels makes women； and particularly ladies of fashion； very fond of using strong expressions and superlatives in conversation； and； though the dissipated artificial life which they lead prevents their cherishing any strong legitimate passion； the language of passion in affected tones slips for ever from their glib tongues； and every trifle produces those phosphoric bursts which only mimick in the dark the flame of passion。 SECTION 13。3。 Ignorance and the mistaken cunning that nature sharpens in weak heads； as a principle of self…preservation； render women very fond of dress； and produce all the vanity which such a fondness may naturally be expected to generate； to the exclusion of emulation and magnanimity。 I agree with Rousseau； that the physical part of the art of pleasing consists in ornaments； and for that very reason I should guard girls against the contagious fondness for dress so common to weak women； that they may not rest in the physical part。 Yet； weak are the women who imagine that they can long please without the aid of the mind； or； in other words； without the moral art of pleasing。 But the moral art； if it be not a profanation to use the word art； when alluding to the grace which is an effect of virtue； and not the motive of action； is never to be found with ignorance； the sportiveness of innocence； so pleasing to refined libertines of both sexes； is widely different in its essence from this superior gracefulness。 A strong inclination for external ornaments ever appears in barbarous states； only the men not the women adorn themselves； for where women are allowed to be so far on a level with men； society has advanced at least one step in civilization。 The attention to dress； therefore； which has been thought a sexual propensity； I think natural to mankind。 But I ought to express myself with more precision。 When the mind is not sufficiently opened to take pleasure in reflection； the body will be adorned with sedulous care； and ambition will appear in tattooing or painting it。 So far is the first inclination carried； that even the hellish yoke of slavery cannot stifle the savage desire of admiration which the black heroes inherit from both their parents； for all the hardly…earned savings of a slave are commonly expended in a little tawdry finery。 And I have seldom known a good male or female servant that was not particularly fond of dress。 Their clothes were their riches； and I argue from analogy； that the fondness for dress； so extravagant in females； arises from the same causewant of cultivation of mind。 When men meet they converse about business； politics； or literature； but； says Swift； 〃how naturally do women apply their hands to each others lappets and ruffles。〃 And very natural it isfor they have not any business to interest them； have not a taste for literature； and they find politics dry； because they have not acquired a love for mankind by turning their thoughts to the grand pursuits that exalt the human race and promote general happiness。 Besides； various are the paths to power and fame； which by accident or choice men pursue； and though they jostle against each other； for men of the same profession are seldom friends； yet there is a much greater number of their fellow…creatures with whom they never clash。 But women are very differently situated with respect to each otherfor they are all rivals。 Before marriage it is their business to please men； and after； with a few exceptions； they follow the same scent； with all the persevering pertinacity of instinct。 Even virtuous women never forget their sex in company； for they are for ever trying to make themselves AGREEABLE。 A female beauty and a male wit； appear to be equally anxious to draw the attention of the company to themselves； and the animosity of contemporary wits is proverbial。 Is it then surprising； that when the sole ambition of woman centres in beauty； and interest gives vanity additional force； perpetual rivalships should ensue？ They are all running the same race； and would rise above the virtue of mortals if they did not view each other with a suspicious and even envious eye。 An immoderate fondness for dress； for pleasure and for sway； are the passions of savages； the passions that occupy those uncivilized beings who have not yet extended the dominion of the mind； or even learned to think with the energy necessary to concatenate that abstract train of thought which produces principles。 And that women； from their education and the present state of civilized life； are in the same condition； cannot； I think； be controverted。 To laugh at them then； or satirize the follies of a being who is never to be allowed to act freely from the light of her own reason； is as absurd as cruel； for that they who are taught blindly to obey authority； will endeavour cunningly to elude it； is most natural and certain。 Yet let it be proved； that they ought to obey man implicitly； and I shall immediately agree that it is woman's duty to cultivate a fondness for dress； in order to please； and a propensity to cunning for her own preservation。 The virtues； however； which are supported by ignorance； must ever be waveringthe house built on sand could not endure a storm。 It is almost unnecessary to draw the inference。 If women are to be made virtuous by authority； which is a contradiction in terms； let them be immured in seraglios and watched with a jealous eye。 Fear not that the iron will enter into their soulsfor the souls that can bear such treatment are made of yielding materials； just animated enough to give life to the body。 〃Matter too soft a lasting mark to bear； And best distinguish'd by black； brown； or fair。〃 The most cruel wounds will of course soon heal； and they may still people the world； and dress to please manall the purposes which certain celebrated writers have allowed that they were created to fill。 SECTION 13。4。 Women are supposed to possess more sensibility； and even humanity； than men； and their strong attachments and instantaneous emotions of compassion are given as proofs； but the clinging affection of ignorance has seldom any thing noble in it； and may mostly be resolved into selfishness； as well as the affection of children and brutes。 I have known many weak women whose sensibility was entirely engrossed by their husbands； and as for their humanity； it was very faint indeed； or rather it was only a transient emotion of compassion； 〃Humanity does not consist in a squeamish ear；〃 says an eminent orator。 〃It belongs to the mind as well as the nerves。〃 But this kind of exclusive affection； though it degrade the individual； should not be brought forward as a proof of the inferiority of the sex； because it is the natural consequence of confined views： for even women of superior sense； having their attention turned to little employments； and private plans； rarely rise to heroism； unless when spurred on by love； and love as an heroic passion； like genius； appears but once in an age。 I therefore agree with the moralist who asserts； 〃that women have seldom so much generosity as men；〃 and that their narrow affections； to which justice and humanity are often sacrificed； render the sex apparently inferior； especially as they are commonly inspired by men； but I contend； that the heart would expand as the understanding gained strength； if women were not depressed from their cradles。 I know that a little sensibility and great weakness will produce a strong sexual attachment； and that reason must cement friendship； consequently I allow； that more friendship is to be found in the male than the female world； and that men have a higher sense of justice。 The exclusive affections of women seem indeed to resemble Cato's most unjust love for his country。 He wished to crush Carthage； not to save Rome； but to promote its vain glory； and in general； it is to similar principles that humanity is sacrificed； for genuine duties support each other。 Besides； how can women be just or generous； when they are the slaves of injustice。 SECTION 13。5。 As the rearing of children； that is； the laying a foundation of sound health both of body and mind in the rising generation； has justly been insisted on as the peculiar destination of woman； the ignorance that incapacitates them must be contrary to the order of things。 And I contend； that their minds can take in much more； and ought to do so； or they will never become sensible mothers。 Many men attend to the breeding of horses； and overlook the management of the stable； who would； strange want of sense and feeling！ think themselves degraded by paying any attention to the nursery； yet； how many children are absolutely murdered by the ignorance of women！ But when they escape； and are neither destroyed by unnatural negligence nor blind fondness； how few are managed properly with respect to the infant mind！ So that to break the spirit； allowed to become vicious at home； a child is sent to school； and the methods taken there； which must be taken to keep a number of children in order； scatter the seeds of almost every vice in the soil thus forcibly torn up。 I have sometimes compared the struggles of these poor children who ought never to have felt restraint； nor would； had they been always held in with an even hand； to the despairing plunges of a spirited filly； which I have seen breaking on a strand； its feet sinking deeper and deeper in the sand every time it endeavoured to throw its rider； till at last it sullenly submitted。 I have always found horses； an animal I am attached to； very tractable when treated with humanity and steadiness； so that I doubt whether the violent methods taken to break them； do not essentially injure them； I am； however； certain that a child should never be thus forcibly tamed after it has injudiciously been allowed to run wild； for every violation of justice and reason； in the treatment of children； weakens their reason。 And； so early do they catch a character； that the base of the moral character； experience leads me to infer； is fixed before their seventh year； the period during which women are allowed the sole management of children。 Afterwards it too often happens that half the business of education is to correct； and very imperfectly is it done； if done hastily； the faults； which they would never have acquired if their mothers had had more understanding。 One striking instance of the folly of women must not be omitted。 The manner in which they treat servants in the presence of children； permitting them to suppose； that they ought to wait
