TABOO AND GENETICS 99 



recompense thus for turning from their social 

 to their biological functions. To these highly 

 individualized modern women must be pre- 

 sented more cogent reasons for taking upon 

 themselves the burden of reproducing the group. 

 It is obvious that from just this energetic 

 female stock we should obtain a large part of the 

 next generation if we are at all concerned over 

 the welfare of the group and its chances of 

 survival. One suggestion is that we may be 

 able to turn their very individualism to account 

 and use it as a potent factor in the social control 

 of their reproductive activities. If we can 

 demonstrate on the basis of sound biological 

 data that the bearing of children is necessary 

 for the full and complete development of the 

 individual woman, ph3^sically and mentally, 

 we shall have gone a long way toward securing 

 voluntary motherhood. Onl}^ such argument 

 will induce the highly individualized, who may 

 also be the most vital, woman to turn of her own 

 accord from competitive social activities to the 

 performance of the biological function for which 

 she is specialized. This is especially true, as 

 has been intimated above, since contraceptive 

 knowledge now permits the exercise of sexual 

 functions without the natural consequences, 

 and the avoidance of motherhood no longer 

 involves the denial of expression to the sexual 

 urge. 



