12 THE SEX-COMPLEX 



Every fertii- present : some men are described as being effeminate, 

 in e ?he V hiSian wnile many a woman has the smallest possible balance 

 subject is f femininity in her favour. If further evidence of this 

 bisexuality, which exists in everyone, were required, 

 it is to be found in the embryological remains of the 

 latent sex, which are always apparent in the genital 

 ducts. These remains are invariable, and we must 

 admit that it is in respect to the genitalia that there 

 is the greatest difference between men and women — in 

 some cases the only difference, according to our present 

 standards. Unfortunately, however, the other charac- 

 teristics showing less divergence have not been in- 

 vestigated and compared with accuracy — we have, in 

 fact, been satisfied with observing gross differences 

 only. 



So much for the actual predisposition in the fertil- 

 ized ovum towards maleness or femaleness : beyond 

 conceiving theoretically that this is dependent on 

 intracellular metabolism, which may possibly be 

 subject to external interference, we know nothing 

 definitely. 

 Development When, however, we come to a consideration of the 

 point of sex- further development of the ovum towards that point 

 divergence. a t wn ich we can recognize sex-divergence — a term which 

 I think best indicates the tendency of originally bisexual 

 cells towards a predominating sex-characterization — 

 then our knowledge becomes more definite. 

 The organs of It appears probable that the potentiality to produce 

 secretion and femininity, which exists in the earliest stages of segment- 



s? x - ation of the ovum, is directed towards the future 



divergence. 



development and correlations of the hormonopoietic 

 organs that are subsequently to control the sexual 

 evolution of the individual. This statement has been 

 wrongly interpreted by certain critics to mean that 

 the organs of internal secretion determine sex. It 

 is, however, the original sex-potentiality that directs 

 the activities of the organs in question, which them- 

 selves form primary characteristics and influence the 

 secondary. 



