Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-24
F'eminism and Sex-Extinction.

With this title .Arabella keneally OF Dublin
has published volume discussing some OF the
things that are involved in the modern woman
suffrage movement, and SO assumes leadership
in the reaction against extreme claims OF femin-
ism. TO base her arguments she turns to biology,
and from the primary facts OF science shows
how male and female were developed, with func-
tons highly specialized, and so important they
can never be merged. This is something too
frequently lost sight of by those who permit
themselves TO be swept along by the cloquence
OF the appeal for sex equality. The separate
functions of the sexes must remain so, and the
duties. responsibilities and joys that flow from
that division can not be united "Fen,inisn, the
cxrcnist-and OF late years the predominant
cult OF the Womans Movement is Mascuin-
ism," says the author, and, il carried to its log-
cal development, unrestricted and unchecked,
will terminate in sex extinction, condition alike
abhorrcnt and contrary to the laws of Nature
and God. She says:
Human evolution and progress have re-
suited absolutely from an opposite trend, in
inference and development, of the two sexes,
as regards life and characteristics. aptitude
and avocation. The progressive differentia-
tons and specifications of vital processes
and faculty have been increasingly advanced
to higher powers, reach their most admirable
elimination in the complex division OF hui
nlanity into two genders; each OF which is
enabled, by way of such complex specializa-
ton, to promote, to intensity and to dignity
its own allotted qualities. To oppose and
frustrate this natural dispensation, whereby
human development is achieved by the two
sexes travelling along diametreally opposite
lines Of ascent, is to nullify all that cviliza-
ton has secured and to transform the impulse
OF progress into one OF decadence.
Nothing in this can reasonably be construed
to deprive woman OF her rghtful share in
transacting the business of the world. On the
contrary it should encourage her to continue in
her development, for only as she advances will
man advance.
Woman's contribution to life is because she
Is woman, and for the reason that her at
tributes essentially differ from mans. That
she does have an equal share with man in all
the important undertakings, both in inception
and in result as we'll as in the various stages
between, will not be disputed, but her part is
the woman's part, and she does not benefit
herself or humanity in the least when she takes
up the things that properly belong to her mate.
In the twilight zone between the sexes, estab
li,hed by the feminist cult are many dangers.
Harmony Of thought and action between
man and woman will never be perfect, perhaps,
because of certain restlessnesS that continually
stirs to action, but the evolution that has en-
abled the race to come so far along the way OF
progress should teach the value to each Of the
division alike Of power and influence that rests
on gender. Happily for all, the discussion is
yet in its academic stage, and for the moment
at least the world is in little danger except that
negligible quantity that arises from discussion
rf ahsfracticns