The Woman Question

In a time when women have few rights within marriage, and little was known about birth control, marriage was a prison for women. This is one of VDC's commentaries on marriage as a trap for women's autonomy. She also points out that some of the anarchist men couldn't see that there was a problem; many of them were not radical in lifestyle, only in politics, a problem that many women activists have encountered in every century.

(From a lecture delivered in Scotland.) A section of Anarchists say there is no "Women Question," apart from our present industrial situation. But the assertion is mostly made by men, and men are not the fittest to feel the slaveries of women. Scientists argue that the nutritive functions of society are best performed by the male--the reproductive by the female, the food finding is done away from, the rearing of children, at home; and if woman enters the industrial arena she will suffer in her distinctive powers. Amongst the working-classes this is not so, as the women work hard at home duties, and sometimes take in sewing, or go out washing for other people. Woman's domestic work is the most ill-paid labour in the world. Marriage is not in the interest of women. It is a pledge from the marrving man to the male half of society (women are not counted in the State), that he will not shirk his responsibilities upon them! Marriage is discredited, by its results as well as by its origin. Men may not mean to be tyrants when they marry, but they frequently grow to be such. It is insufficient to dispense with the priest or registrar. The spirit of marriage makes for slavery. Women are becoming more and more engaged in industry.

This means that other doors are open to her than the door of menial service. It also means that just as men have developed individuality, because of their being thrown into all sorts of employment and conditions, so likewise will women. And with the development of diversity will come the irrepressible desire for its expression, and by consequence the necessity of such material conditions as will permit that expression. The unattainability of quietude in the ordinary home militates against such conditions, whilst the 'abominably uneconomical' way in which the work is done being on an infinitesimally small scale a laundry, bakery, lodging- house, restaurant and nursery rolled into one—also doom the home.

With, however, the introduction of ideas bound to follow the introduction of female labour into industrialism, the home in its present form must go...Meanwhile, I would strongly advise every woman contemplating sexual union of any kind, never to live together with the man you love, in the sense of renting a house or rooms, —and becoming his housekeeper.

As to the children, seeing the number of infants who die, the alarm is rather hypocritical; but, ignoring this consideration, first of all it should be the business of women to study sex, and control parentage—never to have a child unless you want it, and never to want it (selfishly, for the pleasure of having a pretty plaything), unless you, yourself alone, are able to provide for it.

Men, on the other hand, may contribute to their children's support; but in virtue of this support being voluntary— they would be put into a position where their opportunity of having anything to say in the management of the children would depend on their good behavior.”