Sex & Character: Authorised Translation from the Sixth German EditionWeininger, Otto
Philosophy
Sex & Character: Authorised Translation from the Sixth German Edition
Weininger, Otto
Character; Sex; Sex (Psychology); Sexual ethics
But the full extent to which match-making influences the point of view
of all women is not yet fully grasped. On a summer evening when lovers
may be seen in dark corners of public places, or on the seats and banks
round about, it is always the women who wilfully and curiously try to
see what is happening, whilst men who have to pass that way do so
unwillingly, looking the other way, because of a sense of intrusion.
Just in the same way it is women who turn in the streets to look at
nearly every couple they meet, and gaze after them. This espionage and
turning round are none the less “match-making,” because they are
sub-conscious acts. If a man does not want to see a thing he turns his
back on it, and does not look round; but women are glad to see two
people in love with one another, and take pleasure in surprising them in
their love-making, because of their innate and super-personal desire
that sexual union should occur.
But man, as was seen much further back, only cares for that which has a
positive value. A woman when she sees two lovers together is always
awaiting developments, that is to say, she expects, anticipates, hopes,
and desires an outcome. I know an elderly married woman who listened
expectantly at the door for some time, when a servant of hers had
allowed her sweetheart to come into her room, before she walked in and
gave her notice.
The idea of union is always eagerly grasped and never repelled whatever
form it may take (even where animals are concerned).[18] She experiences
no disgust at the nauseating details of the subject, and makes no
attempt to think of anything pleasanter. This accounts for a great deal
of what is so apparently mysterious in the psychic life of woman. Her
wish for the activity of her own sexual life is her strongest impulse,
but it is only a special case of her deep, her only vital interest, the
interest that sexual unions shall take place; the wish that as much of
it as possible shall occur, in all cases, places, and times.
[18] The one apparent exception to this rule is fully discussed in
this chapter.
This universal desire may either be concentrated on the act itself or on
the (possible) child; in the first case, the woman is of the prostitute
type and participates merely for the sake of the act; in the second, she
is of the mother type, but not merely with the idea of bearing children
herself; she desires that every marriage she knows of or has helped to
bring about should be fruitful, and the nearer she is to the absolute
mother the more conspicuous is this idea; the real mother is also the
real grandmother (even if she remains a virgin; Johann Tesman’s
marvellous portrayal of “Tante Jule” in Ibsen’s “Hedda Gabler” is an
example of what I mean). Every real mother has the same purpose, that of
helping on matrimony; she is the mother of all mankind; she welcomes
every pregnancy.
The prostitute does not want other women to be with child, but to be
prostitutes like herself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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