prominent evil of our oivilization---and has given us a false basis for the judgment of values.

"As things stand now there is a constant striving on the part of mon to dominate women, and an appropriate dissatisfaction with masculine domination on the part of women--leading to psychic dissonances which are extraordinarily painful to both sexes.

"What we consider 'masculine' nowadays is common knowledge. Above all it is something purely egoistic-gives a feeling of superiority and dominance over others, with the aid of seemingly 'active' characteristics such as courage, strength, winning of victories, the acquisition of position, honors, titles.

"The advantages of being a man are, under such conditions, very alluring---wo must not be astonished that it would seem that in our culture every woman wanted to be a man!

"Thus 'masculine' signifies worthwhile, powerful, victorious, capable, whereas 'feminine' becomes identical with obedient, servile, subordinate.

"This 'masculine response'--designated as the 'boy-girl', or the 'mannish woman', is seen to be as often of social origin as of congenital or glandular basis. For the reason that there are only two sex roles possible---Desertion from the role of woman can therefore appear only as 'masculine.'"

All in all, Dr. Adler places a disproportionate emphasis on dominance-submission patterns, and for that he's quite culture-bound. There are other cultures whose ideals differ, being based on tradition, or on cooperation. And there are peoples who rank generosity above pecuniary wealth. In addition, our own times have changed since the first appearance of this book in 1927: changes fortunately in the direction of amiability and mutual aid among the two Bexe 8. Yet, reading Dr. Adler again is an insight as to how a fiercely competitive and individualistic culture such as our own has shaped the American mind and personality.

Patricia Lamson

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