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Story
June 18, 1927
The St. Paul Echo
St. Paul, Minneapolis, Ramsey County, Hennepin County, Minnesota
What is this article about?
A writer in Liberty magazine argues that city life is blurring traditional gender distinctions, making women more masculine and men more feminine through shared tasks, environments, and experiences, while rural life restores natural traits.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
City Life Tending to
Wipe Out Sex Lines
City life is rapidly making women masculine and men feminine, contends a writer in Liberty. "Male and female created He them," the writer points out, "but the cities have altered His plan and more and more are wiping out sex lines.
The male and female work at the same tasks, ride the same subways, drive the same cars, play the same games, see the same shows. More and more, therefore, they think the same thoughts and have the same feelings.
"Man is as adaptable to his environment as a chameleon is. The unsexing of men and women through city life is natural. City life softens men, makes them shrink from discomforts, standardizes their lives and thoughts. City life hardens women. The first ride in a crowded subway train is a shock to the natural modesty of a girl.
"Cities are necessary in this complicated modern world. The country is the great restorer. Our dandified clerks and office workers, restored to the farm, quickly revert to shaving every other day or once a week, wearing old clothes, and stabbing across the table with a fork. In war the counter-jumpers begin to sing bass in a few months and revert to cave-man tactics."
Wipe Out Sex Lines
City life is rapidly making women masculine and men feminine, contends a writer in Liberty. "Male and female created He them," the writer points out, "but the cities have altered His plan and more and more are wiping out sex lines.
The male and female work at the same tasks, ride the same subways, drive the same cars, play the same games, see the same shows. More and more, therefore, they think the same thoughts and have the same feelings.
"Man is as adaptable to his environment as a chameleon is. The unsexing of men and women through city life is natural. City life softens men, makes them shrink from discomforts, standardizes their lives and thoughts. City life hardens women. The first ride in a crowded subway train is a shock to the natural modesty of a girl.
"Cities are necessary in this complicated modern world. The country is the great restorer. Our dandified clerks and office workers, restored to the farm, quickly revert to shaving every other day or once a week, wearing old clothes, and stabbing across the table with a fork. In war the counter-jumpers begin to sing bass in a few months and revert to cave-man tactics."
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
City Life
Gender Blurring
Urban Effects
Social Standardization
Rural Restoration
Where did it happen?
Cities
Story Details
Location
Cities
Story Details
City life blurs gender lines by equalizing tasks and experiences, softening men and hardening women, while rural settings restore traditional traits; cities are necessary but alter natural sex distinctions.