SERVICEWOMEN AS DOMESTICS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24417, 17 November 1944, Page 6

SERVICEWOMEN AS DOMESTICS

Sir. —Your correspondents who deny the right of decent rehabilitation to girls of the armed forces recall the cen-turies-old fact that women of narrow mentality have ever been the greatest enemies of their own sex. One asks “Former Servicewoman” what "privileges” a uniform bestows? As for getting down to real work, as she advises, no mature “servicewoman” who worked, as I did, alongside W.A.A.F.’s doing all manner of heavy and technical jobs, from engine-repairing to instructing airmen pilots in precision bombing, could make this remark Selfishness 'and a bias towards an easy way of life were not shown by the girls who enlisted: the selfishness is on the part of protected women who* see a chance of exploiting demobilised girls, and cynically try to take advantage of it—Yours, etc., FORTY-FIVE. November 15, 1944.

Sir,—Much is said by civilians of girls in uniform; little do these critics know just what the girls are really doing. In 1941, girls were begged to give their services to the forces. They who could be spared felt it was their duty to do so, which involved signing’on for the duration. As in civilian jobs, if there are some who do not pull their weight the whole are judged by a few. Consider those who are doing a real job Many have come from domestic work with the intention of returning when peace is declared and the camps -no longer have to be maintained. It would be interesting to know how many of the women of the Peel Forest Institute offered their assistance as domestics when they were free to do so.—Yours. 6tC.« TWO CONSCIENTIOUS W.A-A.C.’s November 16, 1944.

Sir,—l have been interested in the controversy about the suggestion that servicewomen should do some war work for a change. These country mothers are doing a marvellous job bringing up families and helping their husbands to produce the ,'ood which, after all. is the second front of this war. These same mothers are getting less consideration and help than any women in the Dominion—no “cushy job” for them, with a uniform supplied Though the scheme is sound, I hardly think it could be successful. The type of servicewomen who stroll,about the town in the shops and tearooms, gloves in one hand and a letter in the other, are not the kind of girls the countr could call upon to do real war work, help in a crisis, and do something worth while: they just don’t want to work, but we ipust rememb'- a uniform is very becoming.—Yours, etc., SYMPATHY FOR THE FARMERS’ WIFE.. November 16, 1944.