Some [women] have tried to become semi-men by putting on the Bloomer dress. Let me tell you in a word why it can never be done. It is this: woman, robed and folded in her long dress, is beautiful. She walks gracefully… If she attempts to run, the charm is gone… Take off the robes, and put on pants, and show the libs, and grace and mystery are all gone. Even Venus never tried to run. Et vera incessu patuit Dea. So long as she is thus clothed, there is just enough of mystery about woman to challenge admiration, and almost reverence.
excerpt from Women’s Rights, by Reverend John Todd (1867)
the very old and storied cry of Women have to dress and behave different or else I might notice they’re not particularly different from men, and that makes me very uncomfortable for reasons. Legitimate reasons!
the very old and storied cry of Women have to dress and behave different or else I might notice they’re not particularly different from men, and that makes me very uncomfortable for reasons. Legitimate reasons!
“show the libs”?
dammit, that should have bin “limbs”
i typed the first half by hand, copying it out of People’s History of the United States then found the rest of the passage online
Oh lol
I respect the dedication, it’s a very funny excerpt