SHOULD MARRIED WOMEN GO TO WORK?

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27990, 9 June 1956, Page 11

SHOULD MARRIED WOMEN GO TO WORK?

[Specially written for “The Press” ■by

JOHN JOHNSON]

Once upon a time, when the home was also the workshop or was part of a farm, the married woman had as much to do with the earning of the living as her husband. Then, in the nineteenth century after the Industrial Revolution, there tended to grow a sharp distinction as the man went out to the factory or the office to work while the woman stayed at home—imprisoned in the home, as some writers put it. And the tradition grew up that “the woman’s place was the home,” at least after she was married.

But in our own century the issue is .not so clear. Gradually, more and more women tended to be gainfully employed, especially during and since the two World Wars. Today every adolescent girl leaving school seeks a job; and many do not stop working with marriage. Should they do this, especially if they are mothers? • The question came into prominence again and has been much debated since it was raised by the Commission on Child Delinquency, which discussed the possible connexion between the mother’s absence at work and the misdemeanour of her child. People complained, they said.

that mothers were frequently absent from their homes at times when their children needed their care and guidance. One cause of absence was work, and the committee said that onethird of the delinquent children whose cases they considered belonged to homes where the mother worked for wages; but a special survey of a closely populated area showed that 25 per cent, of the mothers of pupils of a post-primary school went out to work. So we must not jump to conclusions here. Incidentally the Commission mentioned that the fathers of the delinquents were not free from blame—what opportunities had they made in the evenings and at weekends to identify themselves with their children’s interests and activities? Two Sweeping Opinion? I find that people tend to either of two sweeping opinions here: some condemn every working mother as guilty of child neglect while she earns money which she wastes; others stress the increasing need of every housewife to earn, so that the family has enough to live on in these days of inflation and high prices. Neither, of course, has the whole* truth. The position is rea'lly much more complex than that. But the fact remains that today in the United States and in many other countries (also, it is claimed, in New Zealand) an increasing number of married women are working, many full time.

I suggest that it would pay us to spend a little time analysing just why they do it. In some cases sheer necessity enters, as with some widows, wives of sick husbands, women faced with debts or drunken husbands. Pensions and social security do not always enable them to make ends meet. A second group allied to these are the cases, not of absolute necessity, but where women find or say they just

must have a higher standard of living than their husband’s wages or what he gives them provides. There may be special items, *T must have a car?” payment for a child at a boarding school, or a son going through the Medical School. There is a minority here who want the money for the races, or for drink or inordinate luxuries.

Then there is the girl who has worked herself up in a career. Yet the charming, irresistible man comes along to propose marriage, and how can she refuse him? But the same woman would be lost without her daily work, especially if it carries a considerable salary. So who will blame her staying on at her job? Some, indeed, like Dr. Kathleen Lonsdale, the famous scientist lately honoured as a Dame of the British Empire, stop for a while as long as their children are small, then resume and reach the top of their profession, in her case, a professor of chemistry and public lecturer of high merit. And there would be a great social loss if they -did not do so. That brings me to the fourth group —the women with outstanding gifts or capacities whose services the world badly needs today: doctors, teachers, business executives, writers. And typists, I can hear someone say. In fact, on the need side, this list could be infinitely extended, couldn’t it? In a different category are a fifth group of married women who are bored and haven’t, or say they haven’t, enough to do at home; and rather than play bridge, do fancywork, or endless gardening, they seek and take at least a part-time position in factory or office. Finally, though this does not exhaust the posibiTities, akin to the last group are the mothers who are lonely, left by themselves all day, particularly if before marriage they have worked in a group of friendly people. These now seek daily work for what we could call social reasons. I think the fact should also be mentioned that today, in New Zealand, as a glance at the advertisement columns will show, there is a great demand for women workers, and many employers, including the New Zealand Government, offer special concessions to married women in hours and wagerates. There is great economic inducement today to tempt the married woman out of ner home, added, as we have said, to the fact of her having almost invariably been a wage-earner before marriage.

Effect on Children Do the children invariably suffer? I will not get on to the debatable ground of the husbands who can always forbid, or try to forbid, their wives working. I think the answer is certainly, No. the children don’t invariably suffer.” But without adequate safeguards there is a risk. Generally, though, they stand to gain in a sense of independence, and in getting their share irr the higher standard of living the family can now enjoy from the mother’s earnings. Moreover, they may get the great of having a more contented mother; Incidentally, the cause of the delinquency in the case of the working mother’s child may not lie in her absence at all. One would expect, of course, that the standard of living of the home should be maintained, possibly by more assistance from its other members. I hear that Dr. Lonsdale's husband makes the family bread. Should married women go to work? Well, we have seen that because of need, of unsatisfied wants, of having a vocation, of habit, of the need of the community, of being bored at home and finally by pressure from employers: for each or all of these reasons more and more married women seek and follow gainful employment. And who is to say them nay? One wonders, though, if there is not a danger of avarice or over-emphasis on money earning. Might not a' life of more varied interests, both in the home and in the community, be preferable for the mother? But to do this, she must have adequate spending power. Apparently today she hasn’t, or thinks she hasn't this. Some suggest, therefore, such measures as doubling the child allowance. But I imagine that even then many mothers would stick to their jobs. I confess that I must stay puzzled.