Sexual ethics : a study of borderland questions / by Robert Michels.

  • Michels, Robert, 1876-1936.
Date:
[1914]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Sexual ethics : a study of borderland questions / by Robert Michels. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    hav'c continiicd to mcct ber husband iipon cqiial intellcctiial tenns. Undoubtedly all this is in part an effect of thè eternai triangular duci between maternal dutics, conjiigal duties, and woman’s dnties towards ber own individuality. But none thè less \ve bave to ask onrselves what has become of all thè women doctors and women students who bave married ? They bave disappeared. In many cases thè cause of this eclipse is to be found in thè appear- ancc of cbildren too early in married life and in too rapid succession. As reflective and intelligcnt women, how few of them bave survived thè storms of tbeir first experience of motherhood. In thè cares and troubles of tbeir life as mothers, they bave, for thè most part, allowed all tbeir energies to become absorbed. To thè duty of thè voluntary limitation of procrea- tion, a duty imposed by thè sentiment of responsibility, corresponds thè right to thè voluntary limitation of procreation as thè complement to thè right of free development of one’s own personality. Every human being has a right to existence. Every life has a just claim to be inviolable and intangible. In this we recognise an elemcntary law of humanity. In conscnance with this principio, we bave abolished all laws in accordance with which it was possible for human beings to own property in other human beings. For thè same reason, at thè time of thè Sccond Empire, thè French democrats resisted thè institution of thè plébiscite, contending that it was immoral for a nation to renounce in favour of a dynasty, not only its own sovereign rights, but also those of its descendants. Stili for thè same reason, 16
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