The Man‐Made World
How about the reverse?
If “society” is made by women, for women, surely a misstep by a helplessly “innocent” girl, will not injure her standing!
But it does. She is no longer “innocent.” She knows now. She has lost her market value and is thrown out of the shop. Why not? It is his shop—not hers. What women may and may not be, what they must
and must not do, all is measured from the masculine standard.
A really feminine “society” based on the needs and pleasures of women, both as females and as human beings, would in the first place accord them freedom and knowledge; the knowledge which is
power. It would not show us “the queen of the ballroom” in the position of a wall‐flower unless favored by masculine invitation; unable to eat unless he brings her something; unable to cross the floor without his arm. Of all blind stultified “royal sluggards” she is the archetype. No, a feminine society would grant at least equality to women in this, their so‐called special field.
Its attitude toward men, however, would be rigidly critical.
Fancy a real Mrs. Grundy (up to date it has been a Mr., his whiskers hid in capstrings) saying, “No, no, young man. You won‘t do.
You‘ve been drinking. The habit‘s growing on you. You‘ll make a bad husband.”
Or still more severely, “Out with you, sir! You‘ve forfeited your right to marry! Go into retirement for seven years, and when you come back bring a doctor‘s certificate with you.”
That sounds ridiculous, doesn‘t it—for “Society” to say? It is ridiculous, in a man‘s “society.”
The required dress and decoration of “society”; the everlasting eating and drinking of “society,” the preferred amusements of
“society,” the absolute requirements and absolute exclusions of
“society,” are of men, by men, for men,—to paraphrase a threadbare
quotation. And then, upon all that vast edifice of masculine influence, they turn upon women as Adam did; and blame them for severity with their fallen sisters! “Women are so hard upon women!”