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Butler, "The Double Standard of Morality," Oct. 1886
among women. Even those men who are personally pure and
blameless become persuaded by the force of familiarity with male
profligacy around them, that this sin in man is venial and excusable.
They interpret the ignorance and silence of women as indulgent
acquiescence and support.
Women are guilty also in this matter, for they unfortunately have
imitated the tone and sentiments of men, instead of chastening and
condemning them; and have shown, too often, very little indeed of the
horror which they profess to feel for sins of impurity. Now we have the
profound conviction that not only must as many men and women as
possible severally understand the truth concerning their relations to
each other, but also that they must learn the lesson in each other’s
presence, and with each other’s help. A deeply-reaching mutual
sympathy and common knowledge must (if we are ever to have any
real reform) take the place of the life-long separation and antipathetic
sentiments which have prevailed in the past.
Obviously, then, the essence of the great work which we propose
to ourselves, is to Christianize public opinion, until both in theory and
practice, it shall recognize the fundamental truth that the essence of
right and wrong is in no way dependent upon sex, and shall demand of
men precisely the same chastity as it demands of women.
It is a tremendous work which we have on hand. Licentiousness
is blasting the souls and bodies of thousands of men and women,
chiefly through the guilt of the men of the upper and educated classes.
The homes of the poor are blighted--the women among the poor are
crushed--by this licentiousness, which ever goes hand in hand with the
most galling tyranny of the strong over the weak. The press and the
pulpit, apparently dismayed by the enormity of the evil, the one
sometimes in sympathy with it, the other losing faith in the power of
God and in spiritual revival, have ceased altogether to administer any
adequate rebuke. In our homes and in social circles mistaken delicacy
has come to the aid of cowardice, and the truth is betrayed even in the
house of its friends. The warnings of God are concealed, and young
men and women are left to be taught by sad and irremediable
experience the moral truths which should be impressed upon them
early in life by faithful instructors.
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