EMANCIPATED WOMEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22131, 10 June 1935, Page 12

EMANCIPATED WOMEN

Sir, —"A.L.," writing in the Hebat.d of June 5, would like to knowj jUts t what "emancipation of women" means. May I state my own case, which is that of thousands of women to-day. I was brought up to understand that I would have to earn ir.y own living unless I married. My mother trained me to manage a business, which I did successfully until my marriage, and because financial means are not available to me, I am forced "to slave at home doing work I am not fitted tor. My hugband and myself started business, and because our Government refused any protection in the form of duty on the goods we were manufacturing here—they are produced m Australia in thousands of dozens and allowed to come into New Zealand duty free—we were only able to produce in hundreds of dozens. Result, to-day my husband is on sustenance. My position, if I wore in Russia, would be very different. A woman in Russia to-day is free to goto work and slave as he or she puts it, and she is also free to stay home and tend her family. Emancipation simply means for us women to be free to do as we wish and .to follow that work or profession that we love and are fitted for. Just because we are married it is barred us unless we are financially able to overcome all barriers. If I had a comfortable home, free from financial worries, I could content myself to a certain degree, but placed as I am I think any intelligent woman could not content herself any more than I am, knowing my capabilities to do otherwise. I think many women will agree with me that it is easier to slave than to be forced to be idle. Work, if it is the kind we are best suited to, gives one life's greatest reward. Women t-o-dav are taking more interest in the ruling of affairs tlwli ever in the past, and will go further still in the future. Modern Woiux.