Mark and Lincoln: And Unfinished Revolution

 

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Articles

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Woodhull & Clafi n’s Weekly
INDEPENDENCE VS. DEPENDENCE! WHICH?
Th
 ough not attributed, this article was likely written by Victoria 
Woodhull.
In this age of progress, wherein rapid strides are being made in 
all branches of civilization, woman seems to be about the only 
constituent feature devoid of the general spirit that controls. All 
the elements of society are becoming more distinctly individual-
ized with increasing heterogeneity. Its lines of demarcation, while 
increasing numerically, become more distinct. Th
  e whole tendency is 
to individual independence and mutual dependence. It is most true 
that in the aid progress receives from peoples, the female element 
is but poorly represented, but its eff ects are suffi
  ciently obvious and 
diff usive to demonstrate, even to her, that there must be a forward 
movement made by the sex, else it will be left entirely too far in the 
rear to perform even an unimportant part in the great wants that 
the immediate future will develop. 
Th
  e wife was formerly the housekeeper; she is becoming less and 
less so every day. Many of the duties that once devolved upon her 
are now performed by special trades. Each branch of housewifery 
is coming to be the basis of a separate branch of business. Schools 
perform all the duties of education that once devolved upon the 
mother, and tailors and dressmakers absorb the labor of the ward-

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robe. Th
  e grocer and the baker pretty nearly supply the table, while 
the idea of furnishing meals complete is rapidly gaining accept-
ance. Th
  us, one by one, the duties of the housewife are being taken 
from her by the better understanding and adaptation of principles 
of general economy.
While this revolution is in progress, the preparatory steps to 
cooperative housekeeping are being taken. Th
  ousands live at one 
place and eat at another, when once such practice was unknown. 
Dining saloons are increasing more rapidly than any other branch 
of business, and more transient meals are eaten every day. Th
 e result 
of this will be a division of living under the two systems repre-
sented by the two classes of hotels—the table d’hôte and the à la 
carte. Th
  e residence portions of our cities will be converted into 
vast hotels, which will be arranged and divided for the accommo-
dation of families of all sizes. A thousand people can live in one 
hotel, under one general system of superintendence, at much less 
expense than two hundred and fi fty families of four members each 
Victoria Woodhull, 1872
220 
WOODHULL
 & 
CLAF IN
’
S
 
WEEKLY

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can in as many houses and under as many systems. As a system of 
economy this practice is sure to prevail, for progress in this respect 
is as equally marked as in attainment, and, if we mistake not, is of a 
higher order. To obtain more eff ect from a given amount of power 
is a higher branch of science than to obtain the same by increas-
ing the power. To lessen resistance is better than to increase power, 
and on this principle progress in the principles of living is being 
made toward cooperation. Allowing that the practice will become 
general, what will become of the “special sphere” of woman that is 
painted in such vivid colors by the opponents of the extension of 
female privileges? Are the powers of woman to be wasted upon vain 
frivolities so widely practiced now, when this principle is already 
operating, or are they to be cast in some useful channel—some 
honorable calling? Is fashion to consume the entire time of women 
of the immediate future, or shall they become active members of 
the social body, not only forming a portion of its numbers but con-
tributing their share to the amount of results to be gained? True, 
the beginning of this practice is forcing woman into wider fi elds of 
usefulness; forcing them without preparation into competition with 
man, who has been trained to industry from youth—a vast dispar-
ity over which the complaint of unequal pay is sometimes raised 
without real cause.
Does woman foresee what these things are to lead to, or does 
she prefer to remain blind to the tendencies of progress in this 
regard? It is evident to every mind not willfully blind that woman 
is gradually merging into all the employments of life. [She is] being 
driven to it by the force of circumstances coming from new devel-
opments. It is a necessity. Occupation they must have, for not all 
women even will be content to lead useless lives. Th
 is condition is 
gradually increasing both in volume and extent, and with a persist-
ency which overcomes all opposition custom off ers, it proclaims 
its intentions. Why cannot its drift be recognized as a matter of 
course and all provisions made to help the cause along? Women 
who do not perceive these things, from habitual blindness to all 
that usefulness indicates, may be excused for their supineness; but 
men, who are habitually provident, stand condemned of incon-
sistency for all the opposition manifested to the course events 
will pursue.
independence vs. dependence  221

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