WOMAN, | The Original Exposé of Male Collaboration Against the Female Sex |
by Matilda Joslyn Gage | |
Original publication date 1893
| Preface | 5 |
| Chapter One—The Matriarchate | |
| Tendency of Christianity from the first to restrict woman’s liberty. Womanhad great freedom under the old civilizations. The Matriarchate; its tracesamong many nations; it preceded the Patriarchate. The Iroquois or SixNations under reminiscences of the Matriarchate. Government of theUnited States borrowed from the Six Nations. To the Matriarchate orMother-rule, is the world indebted for its first conception of “inherentrights,” and a government established on this basis. Malabar under theMatriarchate when discovered by the Portuguese. The most ancient Aryansunder the Matriarchate. Ancient Egypt a reminiscence of the Matriarchalperiod. Authority of the wife among the most polished nations of antiquity.As Vestal Virgin in Rome, woman’s authority great both in civil andreligious affairs. Monogamy the rule of the Matriarchate. Polygamy,infanticide and prostitution the rule of the Patriarchate. | 7 |
| Chapter Two—Celibacy | |
| Original sin. Woman not regarded as a human being by the church.Marriage looked upon as vile. Celibacy of the clergy; their degradingsensuality. A double Code of Morals. Celibacy confirmed as a dogma of thechurch. Many notable consequences followed. Wives sold as slaves.Women driven to suicide. Influence of the church unfavorable to virtue.Women of wealth drawn into monastic life. The church in Mexico.President Diaz. Protestant Orders. | 24 |
| Chapter Three—Canon Law | |
| The church makes the legitimacy of marriage depend upon its control of theceremony. Change from ancient civilization to renewed barbarism at anearly age of the Christian era, noted by historians, but its causeunperceived. The clergy a distinct body from the laity; their rights not thesame. A holy sex and an unholy one. Rapid growth of Canon law inEngland. Alteration in the laws through the separation of Ecclesiasticalcourts from the Civil, recognized by Blackstone as among the remarkablelegal events of Great Britain. Learning prohibited to women. The oath ofseven persons required to convict a priest. Husbands prohibited by Canonlaw from leaving more than one-third of their property to wives; might[Pg xi]leave them less. Daughters could be disinherited; sons could not be. TheReformation effected no change. Governments catering to Pope Leo XIII,at time of his Jubilee; the President of the United States sends a gift. | 50 |
| Chapter Four—Marquette | |
| Feudalism; its degradation of woman. Jus primae noctis. Rights of the LordsSpiritual. Peasants decide not to marry. Immorality of the heads ... BU KİTABI OKUMAK İÇİN ÜYE OLUN VEYA GİRİŞ YAPIN!Sitemize Üyelik ÜCRETSİZDİR! | |