Eugenic ideals for womanhood / by Alice Ravenhill.

  • Alice Ravenhill
Date:
[1910?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Eugenic ideals for womanhood / by Alice Ravenhill. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    by widely accepted excuses. Systematic instruction in the right conduct of physical life has hardly yet found a footing, and is in many respects inadequate and incomplete. Should not women have seen to it long ago that these blots on our civilisation were removed, and that these standing menaces to moral as well as to material prosperity ceased to prejudice progress ? No sudden movement, no exaggerated actions will effect deep-seated reforms. For this purpose prolonged, quiet, intelligent methods of character formation and health promotion in family and institu¬ tion life are needed, supplemented by wise, well-considered action in professional and philanthropic work. By such means influence of a sustained, far-reaching kind is exercised upon the national life. The eugenic ideals for us women to-day may, it seems to me, be formulated as follows : (1) To procure for boys and girls alike more general instruc¬ tion in subjects hitherto accorded insufficient prominence in their home and school training. For instance, more systematic as well as well-organised and judicious suggestions are necessary upon the duty and advantages of applying to the betterment of the conditions of daily life the knowledge gained at school and college, associating this direct guidance in the practical utilisation of human experience with a careful inculcation of high standards grounded on religion and ethics. This will require of those responsible for the education of children, that is to say of parents and teachers, so sound a knowledge of hygiene and its operations, of morals and their application, that at the right time and in the right place they may season mental provender and manual activities with these eugenic salts. The enormous influence of women can only be rightly exercised with the support of and in co-operation with men ; therefore, this fundamental training must be given to boys as well as girls; though, naturally, the selection of the material and subjects for application would not be identical in the two cases. (2) For all young people, women must also secure suited instruction on the greatest power entrusted to mankind, and the considerations which make of marriage and parenthood intensely great responsibilities. The mystery of the transmission
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