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The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

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<strong>of</strong>fspring to inherit their beauty than the less<br />

handsome husbands <strong>of</strong> the same women.<br />

EARLY BETROTHALS AND SLAVERY OF<br />

WOMEN.<br />

With many savages it is the custom to betroth<br />

the females whilst mere infants; and this would<br />

effectually prevent preference being exerted on<br />

either side according to personal appearance.<br />

But it would not prevent the more attractive<br />

women from being afterwards stolen or taken<br />

by force from their husbands by the more powerful<br />

men; and this <strong>of</strong>ten happens in Australia,<br />

America, and elsewhere. <strong>The</strong> same consequences<br />

with reference to sexual selection<br />

would to a certain extent follow, when women<br />

are valued almost solely as slaves or beasts <strong>of</strong><br />

burden, as is the case with many savages. <strong>The</strong><br />

men, however, at all times would prefer the<br />

handsomest slaves according to their standard<br />

<strong>of</strong> beauty.

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