Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 6: Sex in Relation to SocietyEllis, Havelock
Science
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 6: Sex in Relation to Society
Ellis, Havelock
Sex; Sex (Psychology)
which was found in most of the cases, sometimes accompanied by
anæmia. Here and there nowadays, among the better social classes,
there is ample provision for the development of muscular power in
girls, but in any generalized way there is no adequate
opportunity for such exercise, and among the working class, above
all, in the section of it which touches the lower middle class,
although their lives are destined to be filled with a constant
strain on the neuro-muscular system from work at home or in
shops, etc., there is usually a minimum of healthy exercise and
physical development. Dr. W.A.B. Sellman, of Baltimore ("Causes
of Painful Menstruation in Unmarried Women," _American Journal
Obstetrics_, Nov., 1907), emphasizes the admirable results
obtained by moderate physical exercise for young women, and in
training them to care for their bodies and to rest their nervous
systems, while Dr. Charlotte Brown, of San Francisco, rightly
insists on the establishment in all towns and villages alike of
outdoor gymnastic fields for women and girls, and of a building,
in connection with every large school, for training in physical,
manual, and domestic science. The provision of special
playgrounds is necessary where the exercising of girls is so
unfamiliar as to cause an embarrassing amount of attention from
the opposite sex, though when it is an immemorial custom it can
be carried out on the village green without attracting the
slightest attention, as I have seen in Spain, where one cannot
fail to connect it with the physical vigor of the women. In boys'
schools games are not only encouraged, but made compulsory; but
this is by no means a universal rule in girls' schools. It is not
necessary, and is indeed highly undesirable, that the games
adopted should be those of boys. In England especially, where the
movements of women are so often marked by awkwardness, angularity
and lack of grace, it is essential that nothing should be done to
emphasize these characteristics, for where vigor involves
violence we are in the presence of a lack of due neuro-muscular
coördination. Swimming, when possible, and especially some forms
of dancing, are admirably adapted to develop the bodily movements
of women both vigorously and harmoniously (see, e.g., Havelock
Ellis, _Man and Woman_, Ch. VII). At the International Congress
of School Hygiene in 1907 (see, e.g., _British Medical Journal_,
Aug. 24, 1907) Dr. L.H. Gulick, formerly Director of Physical
Training in the Public Schools of New York City, stated that
after many experiments it had been found in the New York
elementary and high schools that folk-dancing constituted the
very best exercise for girls. "The dances selected involved many
contractions of the large muscular masses of the body and had
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account