WOMEN OF CHINA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 226, 23 September 1932, Page 5

WOMEN OF CHINA.

EQUAL RIGHTS WITH MEN. LEAGUE OF NATIONS- ADDRESS. An address was given by Miss Vera Hay, M.A., secretary of the Auckland branch of the Federation of University Women, on "The Women of China," at the luncheon meeting of. the Auckland branch of the League of Nations Union. The chairman, Mr. W. T. G. Airey, presided. "Since China has been attempting to triiig'lieiseJi in line with other modern and civilised countries of the world, her women have made considerable progress," said Miss Hay. The educated Chinese woman of to-day was wellinformed, spoke English fluently and was eager to do something for the betterment of her fellow women. They were now claiming the rights enjoyed by European wives in the matter of personal and private property, monogamy, smaller families-and social freedom. They were taking an. interest in international as well as national affaire, and were gradually being lifted from the tie of the "family," which alone they had been expected to serve. A Chinese family was a miniature State, over which there presided a patriarch. It consisted of all blood relatives and those by marriage, but was held together by moral obligation rather than by ties of love. The man's job was to eerve the family or State in the capacity of bread winner, and that of the wonian was to serve the children. Miss Hay concluded by saying that women now regarded themselves as the equals of men, took part in national affairs, and were to be seen sitting together with men on various boards and committees.