THE MALE AND THE FEMALE MIND 247 



men in respect to political, legal, financial, and edu- 

 cational privileges and opportunities. Such equality 

 does not imply that identity of aim will follow. It 

 does not mean that women will try to equal men as 

 surgeons, as practical politicians, or as stockbrokers. 

 But it does mean that the removal of artificial dis- 

 abilities, mainly born of masculine selfishness and 

 feminine helplessness, will give to one half the popu- 

 lation a better chance for the development of per- 

 sonality. A gradual change in this direction would 

 accord well with sound ideals of human progress on 

 biological lines. 



The sexes differ rather widely in the expression 

 of interest and affection for each other, and conjuga- 

 tion is preceded almost universally by some play or 

 sport or negotiation. Indications of this are seen 

 even among relatively low animals in which gallantry 

 comes as a surprise. The dance of the male and 

 female scorpions, claw in claw, is a case in point. 

 Among birds the males practice coquetry and are 

 endowed with superior attractions of voice and plu- 

 mage. In mammals, generally, the role is reversed, 

 and the female possesses the qualities and means of 

 attracting the male. In the human species it is 

 with few exceptions the male that assumes the more 

 active role of seeking his mate, but modern society 

 has developed the art of feminine attraction to a 

 remarkable level of efficiency, and it may even be 

 said, in some instances, that the female is covertly, 

 or even openly, the seeker. In general, however, the 



