Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-22
SCIENCE AND SEX.
observations on the Capacity of Women tn
DO Mems Work.

observations on the Capacity of Women to
DO Mems Work.
From the Deutscbe Revue
There has been SO murh discuss concerning
the physical and mental differences between
men and women, and the representatives of So
ciai science have expressed so many contra
dictory opinions regarding this question, that /
feel it my duty, as Psychologist, to give my
opinion on this important matter. Several
fathers OF the church have entirely denied that
woman has soul. The canonists write: "wo-
man is not formed after the image of God ~
and many philosophers in the same manner
have considered women Of small consequence.
In discourse"concerning the education and
culture OF women" Prof. Sergi has followed the
lead of this pessimistic school, The difference
between the sexes, to which Prof Serri has
called attention. ate doubtless significant for
anthropology and physiology. but. il nv opin-
ion, do not depend ON the original condition Of
woman. but are caused by the barriers which
have been raised by society regarding her des-
tiny. In order TO obtain an unprecedented iude.
ment. we must free woman from the woke which
man has placed upon her. We must observe
her In the natural position. where she repre-
sents particular language in the geological
scale. The ladies must now pardon me il
compare them with tine lower animals, for in
this way can the better exalt them.
As objects of comparison we will observe the
most intelligent and faithful animals. With re-
gard to dogs and horses We notice little differ
ence between either the strength or the tenn
permanent Of males and females. The kunte-
fears the lioness more than the lion and the
same Is true Of tigers and panthers Prof. Serei.
in the above-named discourse. has exnresse5
the following condemnatory opinion: "Neither
In her physical nor mental capacities has vomao
reached mans normal scale Of development.
nn a N nv
that this sex seems to have come to q stauds,ill
In the general development Of the race" This
statement has surprised me in the highest ia
gree. 1t appears to me that the marks of tho
human race and the real physical Characters
tics which distinguish us from the animals are
FEMININE pecuiiarites. The principle has been
adduced that the structure OF the brain shows
the abyss between man and animals This Is
incorrect There is no immeasurable difference
between our brain and that OF the gorilla and
the effects of the central cavities are shown only
In the advancing development of the express
sions OF psychical activity. not in their forma-
ton and character. A great morpholocl
cal difference between man and the an
imais is shown in the form Of the
pelvic. No physician, even twenty stems
away. could mistake the pevis of man for tina:
OF an an;hropoid ape. The peivis of woman is
an new type which has appeared on the earth.
Until now We have sought In vain for that ami.
and animals 1t is striking. The narrow, high
pelvis OF the man is more ape-like than that of
the woman. IL the assertion is correct that the
upright gait (on two feet is the mark of dis
junction, and the noblest one for man. then
woman certainly possesses the advantage of a
pelvis particularly suitable for upright walking.
Darwin las also demonstrated that female ami
mails often revert to the masculine type while
the reverse seldom happens More favorable
conditions are necessary for the production of
female animal than male, because the female
embryo exhibits a greater fulness Of life Sta
ustics have shown that under unfavorable con-
dlhons more men than women are born; also
male animals die more easily than female
Several judges of the woman question who
Consider that the brain of woman cannot COM
pare with that of man, add that women should
not enter into emulation with men in the men
tai domain lest they should lose the charm of
their femininity, and because they should give
themselves up completely TO their vocation as
wife and mother. This division Of the work is
certainly very useful for man and has greatly
assisted him to his position Of power, and has
pushed woman into the background But il ia
incorrect that woman loses her womapliuess by
cultivsting her mind