“No need for liberation”

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32430, 17 October 1970, Page 6

“No need for liberation”

“I have never felt the need for a woman’s Jiberation movement, because I’ve always had more opportunities than I’ve known how to handle,” Dr Kathleen Austin, vice-president of the United Christian Missionary Society of the Christian Churches in the United States, said in Christchurch yesterday. Dr Austin is a qualified lawyer, although she has never practised. Her doctor-

ate is honorary, awarded by the Texas Christian University when she became the first woman to be president of the Texas Association of Christian Churches. She served the year-long term in 1963, and considers her being a woman made no difference to the office. For 25 years Dr Austin did voluntary work for the Church. Four years ago she took her present position, after serving eight years on the board. Her education, she believes, was not wasted although she married after graduation. Now she finds her professional training a great help in management of church affairs. “Women have been given opportunities, and by the nature of world development they will be given many more,” she said. “Personally, I don’t want I to assume any obligations by virtue of my womanhood. I want to feel the challenge of ability, to be chosen for responsibility because I’m capable—not because I’m a woman. Discrimination “There has been discrimination against women,” she said. “But we will not get rights by talking about

rights, but by being able to do a job. “When women are capable, they are given responsible positions.” In a recent interview Dr Austin was asked if women’s liberation would mean the advent of women bishops in the future. “I replied that it is to be hoped,” she said. Dr Austin believes women will be accepted in positions of authority. She considers they will be most open to criticism from other women. Aspirations “Women have high and deep aspirations, and are not free from jealousy,” she said. “And maybe it is women’s innate nature to be more analytical than men. A woman’s way of handling a job would be different from that of a man. “God gave men the capacity for competitiveness, and women the capacity of co-operation.” “Women are as capable as men when exposed to the same training and education,” she said. “They assimilate knowledge and learn the techniques of management as skilfully as do men. “This does not mean that women in positions of responsibility will not make mistakes, but they will not make any more, than men.”