The Little Review, March 1914 (Vol. 1, No. 1) — John Shaqi
The Little Review, March 1914 (Vol. 1, No. 1)Various
General
The Little Review, March 1914 (Vol. 1, No. 1)
Various
Literature, Modern -- 20th century -- Periodicals
To go back to _The Atlantic_, I find Mr. George, who is in full sympathy
with the movement of which he writes, classifying the demands of the
feminists as follows: Economically, they intend to open every occupation
to women; they intend to level the wages of women; in general, they wish
to change the attitude of those who regard women's present inferiority
to men (they frankly admit that there is inferiority in many respects)
as inherent and insuperable, by demonstrating that it is due merely to
long lack of thorough training--(an old friend, apparently, in a new
dress!) They wish also gradually to modify and change existing marriage
laws so that they will be equally fair to both sexes.
A careful re-reading of Mr. Martin's article fails to reveal much in the
way of counter argument to Mr. George's forcible appeal. There's a great
deal of courteous agreement and some rather good satire, but against the
specific counts of the feminists' intentions Mr. Martin raises no
telling argument. We hear that whereas fathers wish all earthly
blessings for their daughters, mothers do not, as women are jealous of
women; also that mothers fear the modern woman on account of their sons,
for whom they in turn wish all possible good: the modern woman will not
make a good wife! Angels and ministers of grace defend us! In a double
quality as daughter to a devoted and loving mother, and as a devoted and
loving mother to a most precious daughter, I throw down my glove.
I am sure Mr. Martin has never acted in either of these capacities, so
precious little he knows about it! Besides, I do want my son to have
everything that the world provides in the way of blessings and
happiness, so I want him to have as a wife a thoroughly modern woman
with an awakened soul and a high ideal, to finish the good work in him
which I have at least endeavored to begin.
As I read further, however, the cat begins to poke a cautious head out
of the bag. Women, Mr. Martin argues, are not responsible for the
blessings the feminist movement is trying to bring them. It is men! That
is why he is so particular to tell us of the careful solicitude of a
father for his daughters. Men, right along, have procured all happiness
for women; or, if not men exactly, at least a sort of _Zeit Geist_--I
believe he calls it "necessity." And the poor deluded feminists are
simply the little boys running along by the side of the procession and
hollering. The procession is made up of vague forces, "working nowadays
for the enlargement and betterment of life for women"--forces, he
quaintly complains, that are "making things go too fast their way
already."
So we must take all credit from Luther and Knox and Calvin and the
reformers of all times and give it to the _Zeit Geist_. They, too, are
little boys, I suppose, who ran along and hollered. At least they
hollered lustily and well, and the feminists are in good company.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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