Modern Needs Of Women Discussed

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30110, 19 April 1963, Page 2

Modern Needs Of Women Discussed

The changed status of women and the problems and responsibilities they had to face today was discussed by Mrs A. Beddie. programme organiser of the Young Women’s Christian Association in Christchurch, when she addressed a luncheon meeting held yesterday to mark World Membership Dey. The theme chosen tor this year is “Concerns of Women and Girls.”

“It is the responsibility of the Y.W.C.A. to express continuously and clearly its concern tor the changed needs of women and girls,” said Mrs Bedidie. “Up to the beginning of this century, women needed no knowledge and understanding of the need to control natural desires," she

said. Few went out to work, most lived at home, they were chaperoned when, they did go out, and many married very young. With the greater freedom allowed today there was a “tremendous need” to educate girls in preparation tor marriage—“in the broad sense; not just making sure a girl knows about the reproductive side of life,” she said.

An emotionally and socially mature girl would be a warm. responsive, welladjusted wife, knowing that she was entitled to enjoy equally with her husband the sexual side of marriage. The problem of girls who left school as soon as they were able particularly troubled her, she said. Many of these early-leavers went straight into factories. Theoretically they might not be ignorant of life, but theory was a poor armour tor what would be encountered, she Said. Was the Y.W.C.A. doing as much as it could for these girls? Mrs Beddie asked. It was a hard group to reach and a harder one to interest, and at the moment there was no special club to cater for it.

The association also had a responsibility to educate the public to recognise the status of the single woman; her worth and share in the community and her rights to suitable housing so that she could create a home, she said. Discussing various ways in which the Y.W.CA. could extend its a-itivities, Mrs Beddie told members that their full support was urgently needed in carrying out new projects.