Miss G---- once acknowledged to me that while she has enjoyed the
companionship of superior men whom she would never have known but for
her moral laxity, yet she has paid a heavy price here, since she no
longer values the acquaintance of men in her own sphere of life. From
two such men (excellent, average men) she has received offers of
marriage that she refused because their society no longer satisfied her
after that of others more brilliant and highly placed; but she might
easily have been happy with one of these two, had not her ideals been
raised to a level beyond her legitimate attainment.
I might present other difficulties that must be faced by a woman who
says she is tired of the old standards of virtue and will live her life
as a man lives his, but I need not detail these difficulties. In her
deepest soul every woman knows that the thought of a wayward existence
is abhorrent to her better nature. She hates the double standard, she
knows it has worked only evil in the world--it is a debasement of all
that is noblest, a betrayal of all that is most beautiful. _The double
standard has done more harm to the human race than all the wars of
history._
Women know this, but they are afraid to speak out, they are afraid to
fight for their ideals, and passing years find men clinging to hideous
sex privileges--one law of morality for men and another law for women.
I believe that American women could change all this, they could abolish
the wicked double standard, as they have abolished saloons and houses of
degradation, if they would face the facts of life instead of ignoring
them. It is merely a matter of courage and organization. Suppose a
hundred women in a single city should pledge themselves to bar from
their homes and acquaintance notorious sex offenders--men offenders? And
to question clean-minded men of their acquaintance, influential men,
about these things and to get honest answers? And to have these answers
openly discussed--perhaps in the churches? Why not? What are churches
for except to fight evil?
What would the average man say to a woman whom he respected and trusted
if she asked him to tell her, on his honor as a good citizen, whether he
believes that the double standard is helpful or harmful to the women of
America? Helpful or harmful to the children of America? To the manhood
of America? Whether he is glad or sorry to think of the effects that his
double-standard pleasures have had upon American women? Whether he would
wish his sons to follow in his double-standard footsteps? Whether he
would be willing to give up his double-standard privileges, if by so
doing, he could save ten American women like his mother or his daughter
from destruction? Would he be willing to do that? _Will he give his
pledge to do that?_
Think how such a leaven of decency and clean manhood might spread
throughout the land! It might start a single-standard revival that would
sweep the world. _By the power of courage and faith and the love of
God!_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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