This characterisation of the greater continence in the use of stimulants practised by the women of the reputable classes may seem an excessive refinement of logic at the expense of common sense. But facts within easy reach of any one who cares to know them go to say that the greater abstinence of women is in some part due to an imperative conventionality； and this conventionality is， in a general way， strongest where the patriarchal tradition -- the tradition that the woman is a chattel -- has retained its hold in greatest vigour. In a sense which has been greatly qualified in scope and rigour， but which has by no means lost its meaning even yet， this tradition says that the woman， being a chattel， should consume only what is necessary to her sustenance， -- except so far as her further consumption contributes to the comfort or the good repute of her master. The consumption of luxuries， in the true sense， is a consumption directed to the comfort of the consumer himself， and is， therefore， a mark of the master. Any such consumption by others can take place only on a basis of sufferance. In communities where the popular habits of thought have been profoundly shaped by the patriarchal tradition we may accordingly look for survivals of the tabu on luxuries at least to the extent of a conventional deprecation of their use by the unfree and dependent class. This is more particularly true as regards certain luxuries， the use of which by the dependent class would detract sensibly from the comfort or pleasure of their masters， or which are held to be of doubtful legitimacy on other grounds. In the apprehension of the great conservative middle class of Western civilisation the use of these various stimulants is obnoxious to at least one， if not both， of these objections； and it is a fact too significant to be passed over that it is precisely among these middle classes of the Germanic culture， with their strong surviving sense of the patriarchal proprieties， that the women are to the greatest extent subject to a qualified tabu on narcotics and alcoholic beverages. With many qualifications -- with more qualifications as the patriarchal tradition has gradually weakened -- the general rule is felt to be right and binding that women should consume only for the benefit of their masters. The objection of course presents itself that expenditure on women's dress and household paraphernalia is an obvious exception to this rule； but it will appear in the sequel that this exception is much more obvious than substantial.
第22章 Chapter 4 Conspicuous Consumption(2)（1 / 3）