THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE FEMALE MIND. 



37 



myself ' " ; but until the economic status is changed the fact 

 will remain. 



The economic position of women is of such supreme importance 

 and so affects the psychology of the female mind that until it 

 is altered woman is most unfairly handicapped . It is undoubtedly 

 for the good of the individual, of the nation, and of civilization 

 itself that the financial position of a woman should be as assured 

 as that of a man. 



Already we see in the changing and advancing feminine 

 psychology that the freedom of women has begun ; but it is in 

 vain to strike off the prisoner's shackles one by one, so long as 

 the most galling one of all is retained, in the form of economic 

 dependence. 



No doubt professional and business careers have to some small 

 extent solved the question, but surely much more is required. 

 A radical change of view as to the provision for daughters as 

 compared with sons seems to me an essential step. It is im- 

 possible now to go into details. Possibly in the discussion some 

 may be advanced. Before I reach my last point, for this is 

 designedly a short paper, so as to allow for a good discussion, 

 I must emphasize again the wonderfully sober way in whic?i 

 women have entered their new heritage without developing the 

 new woman. That brief nightmare has already shrunk into the 

 obscurity from whence she came and to which she belongs. 

 The modern woman must, however, do much more than avoid 

 what is evil ; she must grasp the fact of her own importance in 

 moulding the outlook of the coming race, and she must positively 

 advance the highest interests of this country spiritually in cleaving 

 closely to the Faith once delivered to the saints in all its grandeur ; 

 and even still more closely to our Lord and Master, the Alpha 

 and Omega of our Faith, and thus lead our manhood, so largely 

 now halting between two opinions, into the way of truth. 



Mentally and morally I hope she will never yield to the clamour 

 now resounding in many high circles that Eugenics is more to 

 a nation than Ethics. It is by its Christian standards and morals 

 and not by its physical health that this nation must stand or 

 fall, and in days when unspeakable matters are publicly discussed, 

 many know that this warning is sorely needed. 



Neutrality will not do. Once again female heroism must 

 assert itself, and even at the expense of her finer feelings, women 

 must come to the front and do battle for the right. 



I now turn to Benjamin Kidd's beatific vision of the woman 



