Of woman as a real human being, with sexual needs and sexual responsibilities, morality has often known nothing

Of woman as a real human being, with sexual needs and sexual responsibilities, morality has often known nothing

Havelock Ellis was a pioneering sexologist and psychologist who challenged the prevailing attitudes towards women and sexuality in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His quote, “Of woman as a real human being, with sexual needs and sexual responsibilities, morality has often known nothing,” reflects his belief that society often fails to recognize women as fully autonomous individuals with their own desires and agency.

During Ellis’s time, women were often seen as passive objects of male desire, with their sexuality and reproductive capabilities tightly controlled by societal norms and expectations. Women were expected to be chaste and virtuous, and any deviation from these ideals was met with harsh judgment and condemnation. This double standard meant that women were often denied the same sexual freedoms and opportunities as men, leading to a lack of understanding and empathy for their sexual needs and desires.

Ellis sought to challenge these restrictive attitudes towards women and sexuality by advocating for a more open and inclusive approach to human sexuality. He believed that women, like men, were entitled to their own sexual agency and autonomy, and that society’s narrow views on morality often failed to take into account the complex and diverse nature of human sexuality.