The Man‐Made World
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 single—perforce.
Many, under the old mistaken notion of what used to be called the
“social necessity” of prostitution, will protest at the idea of its extinction.
“It is necessary to have it,” they will say.
“Necessary to whom? ”
Not to the women hideously sacrificed to it, surely.
Not to society, honey‐combed with diseases due to this cause.