a vindication of the rights of woman-第39章
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quire when they are shut up together； and I think that the observation may fairly be extended to the other sex； till the natural inference is drawn which I have had in view throughoutthat to improve both sexes they ought； not only in private families； but in public schools； to be educated together。 If marriage be the cement of society； mankind should all be educated after the same model； or the intercourse of the sexes will never deserve the name of fellowship； nor will women ever fulfil the peculiar duties of their sex； till they become enlightened citizens； till they become free； by being enabled to earn their own subsistence； independent of men； in the same manner； I mean； to prevent misconstruction； as one man is independent of another。 Nay； marriage will never be held sacred till women by being brought up with men； are prepared to be their companions； rather than their mistresses； for the mean doublings of cunning will ever render them contemptible； whilst oppression renders them timid。 So convinced am I of this truth； that I will venture to predict； that virtue will never prevail in society till the virtues of both sexes are founded on reason； and； till the affection common to both are allowed to gain their due strength by the discharge of mutual duties。 Were boys and girls permitted to pursue the same studies together； those graceful decencies might early be inculcated which produce modesty； without those sexual distinctions that taint the mind。 Lessons of politeness； and that formulary of decorum； which treads on the heels of falsehood； would be rendered useless by habitual propriety of behaviour。 Not； indeed put on for visiters like the courtly robe of politeness； but the sober effect of cleanliness of mind。 Would not this simple elegance of sincerity be a chaste homage paid to domestic affections； far surpassing the meretricious compliments that shine with false lustre in the heartless intercourse of fashionable life？ But； till more understanding preponderate in society； there will ever be a want of heart and taste； and the harlot's rouge will supply the place of that celestial suffusion which only virtuous affections can give to the face。 Gallantry； and what is called love； may subsist without simplicity of character； but the main pillars of friendship； are respect and confidenceesteem is never founded on it cannot tell what。 A taste for the fine arts requires great cultivation； but not more than a taste for the virtuous affections： and both suppose that enlargement of mind which opens so many sources of mental pleasure。 Why do people hurry to noisy scenes and crowded circles？ I should answer； because they want activity of mind； because they have not cherished the virtues of the heart。 They only； therefore； see and feel in the gross； and continually pine after variety； finding every thing that is simple； insipid。 This argument may be carried further than philosophers are aware of； for if nature destined woman； in particular； for the discharge of domestic duties； she made her susceptible of the attached affections in a great degree。 Now women are notoriously fond of pleasure； and naturally must be so； according to my definition； because they cannot enter into the minutiae of domestic taste； lacking judgment the foundation of all taste。 For the understanding； in spite of sensual cavillers； reserves to itself the privilege of conveying pure joy to the heart。 With what a languid yawn have I seen an admirable poem thrown down； that a man of true taste returns to； again and again with rapture； and； whilst melody has almost suspended respiration； a lady has asked me where I bought my gown。 I have seen also an eye glanced coldly over a most exquisite picture； rest； sparkling with pleasure； on a caricature rudely sketched； and whilst some terrific feature in nature has spread a sublime stillness through my soul； I have been desired to observe the pretty tricks of a lap…dog； that my perverse fate forced me to travel with。 Is it surprising； that such a tasteless being should rather caress this dog than her children？ Or； that she should prefer the rant of flattery to the simple accents of sincerity？ To illustrate this remark I must be allowed to observe； that men of the first genius； and most cultivated minds； have appeared to have the highest relish for the simple beauties of nature； and they must have forcibly felt； what they have so well described； the charm； which natural affections； and unsophisticated feelings spread round the human character。 It is this power of looking into the heart； and responsively vibrating with each emotion； that enables the poet to personify each passion； and the painter to sketch with a pencil of fire。 True taste is ever the work of the understanding employed in observing natural effects； and till women have more understanding； it is vain to expect them to possess domestic taste。 Their lively senses will ever be at work to harden their hearts； and the emotions struck out of them will continue to be vivid and transitory； unless a proper education stores their minds with knowledge。 It is the want of domestic taste； and not the acquirement of knowledge； that takes women out of their families； and tears the smiling babe from the breast that ought to afford it nourishment。 Women have been allowed to remain in ignorance； and slavish dependence； many； very many years； and still we hear of nothing but their fondness of pleasure and sway； their preference of rakes and soldiers； their childish attachment to toys； and the vanity that makes them value accomplishments more than virtues。 History brings forward a fearful catalogue of the crimes which their cunning has produced； when the weak slaves have had sufficient address to over…reach their masters。 In France； and in how many other countries have men been the luxurious despots； and women the crafty ministers？ Does this prove that ignorance and dependence domesticate them？ Is not their folly the by…word of the libertines； who relax in their society； and do not men of sense continually lament； that an immoderate fondness for dress and dissipation carries the mother of a family for ever from home？ Their hearts have not been debauched by knowledge； nor their minds led astray by scientific pursuits； yet； they do not fulfil the peculiar duties； which as women they are called upon by nature to fulfil。 On the contrary； the state of warfare which subsists between the sexes； makes them employ those wiles； that frustrate the more open designs of force。 When； therefore； I call women slaves； I mean in a political and civil sense； for； indirectly they obtain too much power； and are debased by their exertions to obtain illicit sway。 Let an enlightened nation then try what effect reason would have to bring them back to nature； and their duty； and allowing them to share the advantages of education and government with man； see whether they will become better； as they grow wiser and become free。 They cannot be injured by the experiment； for it is not in the power of man to render them more insignificant than they are at present。 To render this practicable； day schools for particular ages should be established by government； in which boys and girls might be educated together。 The school for the younger children； from five to nine years of age； ought to be absolutely free and open to all classes。* A sufficient number of masters should also be chosen by a select committee； in each parish； to whom any complaint of negligence； etc。 might be made； if signed by six of the children's parents。 （*Footnote。 Treating this part of the subject； I have borrowed some hints from a very sensible pamphlet written by the late bishop of Autun on public Education。） Ushers would then be unnecessary； for； I believe； experience will ever prove； that this kind of subordinate authority is particularly injurious to the morals of youth。 What； indeed； can tend to deprave the character more than outward submission and inward contempt？ Yet； how can boys be expected to treat an usher with respect when the master seems to consider him in the light of a servant； and almost to countenance the ridicule which becomes the chief amusement of the boys during the play hours？ But nothing of this kind could occur in an elementary day…school； where boys and girls； the rich and poor； should meet together。 And to prevent any of the distinctions of vanity； they should be dressed alike； and all obliged to submit to the same discipline； or leave the school。 The school…room ought to be surrounded by a large piece of ground； in which the children might be usefully exercised； for at this age they should not be confined to any sedentary employment for more than an hour at a time。 But these relaxations might all be rendered a part of elementary education； for many things improve and amuse the senses； when introduced as a kind of show； to the principles of which dryly laid down； children would turn a deaf ear。 For instance； botany； mechanics； and astronomy。 Reading； writing； arithmetic； natural history； and some simple experiments in natural philosophy； might fill up the day； but these pursuits should never encroach on gymnastic plays in the open air。 The elements of religion； history； the history of man； and politics； might also be taught by conversations； in the socratic form。 After the age of nine； girls and boys； intended for domestic employments； or mechanical trades； ought to be removed to other schools； and receive instruction； in some measure appropriated to the destination of each individual； the two sexes being still together in the morning； but in the afternoon； the girls should attend a school； where plain work； mantua…making； millinery； etc。 would be their employment。 The young people of superior abilities； or fortune； might now be taught； in another school； the dead and living languages； the elements of science； and continue the study of history and politics； on a more extensive scale； which would not exclude polite literature。 Girls and boys still together？ I hear some readers ask： yes。 And I should not fear any other consequence； than that some early attachment might take place； which； whilst it had the best effect on the moral character of the young people； might not perfectly agree with the views of the parents； for it will be a long time； I fear； before the world is so enlightened； that parents； only anxious to render their children virtuous； will let them choose companions for life themselves。 Besides； this would be a sure way to promote early marriages； and from early marriages the most salutary physical and moral effects naturally flow。 What a different character does a married citizen assume from the selfish coxcomb； who lives but for himself； and who is often afraid to marry lest he should not be able to live in a certain style。 Great emergencies excepted； which would rarely occur in a society of which equality was the basis； a man could only be prepared to discharge the duties of public life； by the habitual practice of those inferior ones which form the man。 In this plan of education； the constitution of boys would not be ruined by the early debaucheries； which now make men so selfish； nor girls rendered weak and vain； by indolence and frivolous pursuits。 But； I presuppose； that such a
