胡适留学日记卷十二一六、论教女儿之道

卷十二一六、论教女儿之道

　　（一月廿七日）

　　You wondered "What an Oriental must really and honestly think in his innermost heart—of some American young ladies" (with regard to their unconventionalities) ? …

　　It seems to me the whole matter is a question of consistency. One must choose either absolutism or 1iberalism, either treating woman as a puppet or as a free human being. One must either lock her up in a beautiful chamber, or one must set her really free.

　　Now, the American treatment of woman as I understand it, is supposed to be based on the principle that woman is a free and rational being. Can you trust her? Have you confidence in her ability to act freely and rationally, though at times unconventionally, when she is left in freedom? If you have no such trust in her, then the logical and proper thing will be to lock her up in her own chamber and never to allow her to go out of your sight. That is consistency. But if you have such confidence in her, then 1et her be really free. Let her do what she herself considers proper and reasonable to do. That's also consistency.

　　There is no middle ground between freedom and slavery….

　　And why should we care about what "the other people" think of us? Are we not just as good (if not better) judges of ourselves as they? And is not conventionality after all a man-made thing? Is not an intelligent man or woman greater than conventionality? The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath! Hoe very true! …

　　To Mrs. H. S. W. Jan. 27, 1916

　　〔中译〕

　　汝曾惊叹，“不知一位东方人，在其内心深处，对于一些年轻之美国女士，会想些什么”（关于她们之反习俗）？……

　　以吾观之，全部之症结在于言行一致。要么选择绝对主义，要么选择自由主义；或是将妇女视为一玩偶，或是将妇女看作一自由人。也可将她锁于深闺，也可将她完全解放。

　　目前，据吾理解，美国人对待妇女基于此原则：即认为，妇女乃一自由人，乃一理性人。汝会相信她吗？当她自由时，偶尔会做出反习俗之举动，即使如此，汝还会相信她吗？相信她具有自由地、理智地处理之能力吗？倘若汝不相信她，那么，合乎逻辑的、恰当的办法，便是将其锁于深闺，不让其越雷池半步。此即言行一致。然而，倘若汝相信她，那么，就要让她获得真正的自由，让她做她自以为合适、能胜任之事情。此亦即言行一致。

　　在自由和奴役之间，没有空隙，没有中间道路。……

　　我们为什么要在意“别人”对我们之看法呢？如何准确地评价我们自己（如果不是更行的话），我们不是和他人一样能行吗？习俗不也是人造之物吗？难道习俗要比一个理智之男人或女人更伟大吗？安息日是为人而设，不是人为安息日而设！这可是千真万确的事情呀！

　　致H. S. W. 太太

　　1916年1月27日

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