Page:The rights of women and the sexual relations.djvu/170

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the same degree that the true liberty of men is great and well developed the position of women naturally becomes freer and more _ favorable. Now even if her legal position is as yet nowhere equal to that of the male sex, because complete liberty has as yet nowhere become a reality, it still is important to recognize by illustrations the differences in the shaping of the destinies of women as the results of the greater or lesser liberties of a people.

Let us for this purpose contrast North America with monarchical countries. In the greater part of Europe the legal enactments which determine the legal position of women are sometimes the outcome of manifest barbarity. The Code Napoléon, for instance, surrenders women entirely to the lusts of men by prohibiting the establishment of the paternity of an illegitimate child. But the man has full power over the woman, as he can compel her with the help of the police to remain in his house, while the opposite is not the case.