‘LW.Y.’s advances must be used’

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34087, 26 February 1976, Page 6

‘LW.Y.’s advances must be used’

Attitudes in women, men. and in society were delaying - women from becoming “fully human.” said Miss .1. M. Herbison. the guest speaker al a Christchurch federated Business and Professional Women’s Club international night on Tuesday. Miss Herbison, deputydirector of the Christchurch Technical Institute. was speaking to more than 200 members and guests ai St I Christophers Hall. The club theme, she said, was to look [towards the twenty-first century and to see women reach their full potential. “The achievements and significance of International .Women’s Year should be ’ capitalized on immediately i for continuing development ;in an evolutionary, rather than a revolutionary, way,”; ■she said. I “Women must be emanci-1 pated from a position of inferiority to that of equality as individuals. But this must be earned by improved personal and vocational planning with greater expectations of women’s achievements,” said Miss Herbison. “Vocational guidance pro--grammes will help women to seek opportunities to develop themselves as iridi-j viduals, to co-ordinate with their . family responsibilities.”

A crucial element in the, inferior status of women.! said Miss Herbison. was their lack of confidence in assuming job opportunities and in accepting executive and administrative positions The schools and the community must work to achieve life-long education. Manx recent developments in New Zealand education had been in this area, she said. In education, manx women were superior to men. particularly academically. “They place a Higher value on the I satisfaction they gain from their work, rather than competing on the career ladder." said Miss Herbison She said women should be accepted in married life as working partners. Commun- ! ity-sponsored and govern-ment-subsidised child care facilities should become more readily available to enable the successful combination of a marriage and a: career. “As women become morel flexible in their attitude to! their roles, and encourage; the planning of education.! training, and parenthood as’ an acceptable process of!

becoming a more fully Line tioning human being tlmx will pass on this en’ight enment to their children anc to their husbands.' -a: . Miss Herbison,