Sex efficiency through exercises : special physical culture for women / by Th. H. van de Velde ; [photos, by E. Steinemann].

But, enough of the man's share in that happiness—however important for him, and however just and right. The real destiny of a woman's life is often—far more often than she herself is aware—dependent on her full sexual realisation—or the lack of it. In fact, I would maintain that: Just as it is the man's role to awaken his mate's desire and pleasure, so it is her duty and privilege to tend and preserve that vital flame in their relationship. And for these purposes they each need special, i.e., expert, technical knowledge and technical skill. When the woman's lover has become her helpmate for life " sex appeal " * is no longer enough. What she needs much more, in any permanent association, is " sex efficiency." For habit is apt to diminish and blunt " sex appeal," especially the frequent habit of married life ; whereas, in the same circumstances, " sex efficiency " increases as " practice makes perfect." Erotic aptitude need not be and must not be destroyed, or even, on the whole, impaired by maternity. And advancing years should wither it as little as possible, especially the power of consummating the sex act with full mutual joy and benefit. These, then, are our aims, our desiderata, our demands. And all actual experience below this level of beauty and power is felt by women—whether they acknowledge it or are aware of it, or not !—as a grievous lack and personal defect. Any anatomical or functional inadequacy in the genital sphere affects the personality, and is manifest as some form of inferiority complex in both men and women, but it is apt to be specially pronounced in women. Un- fortunately, gynaecologists have in the past quite failed to recognise these facts (with few exceptions) and partly still * " Sex appeal " has been analysed in my book " Fit or Unfit for Marriage " <41). For our present purposes, it may be defined as " sexual attraction," though the two are not precisely the same. The term " sex efficiency," so far as I know, has never yet been employed in Britain or America. It forms part of the title of the Anglo-American edition of the present study. Modern industrial efficiency is a familiar term throughout the world, thanks to the popular Press. Sex efficiency is analysed and advocated throughout these pages.