WOMEN OF AMERICA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19378, 16 July 1937, Page 2

WOMEN OF AMERICA

PART IN PUBLIC LIFE NOW A VITAL FORCE "Women's organisations in the United States are a big factor in manv of our social and political problems'," said Mrs. F. W. Hart, a delegate to the New Education Fellowship conference, in an address to members of the Federation of University Women in Auckland.

"For a long time it seemed as if American club women were something of a joke, but after they had found their place as real contributors to their country's welfare, the reaction to their activities was much more favourable," Mrs. Hart continued.

They had exploded the doctrine that the sole responsibility of the mother or wife lay in the home and that they had no obligations outside it. Instead it had been realised that the woman's responsibility was to her home, her community, her country and finally to the whole world. American men, on the whole, were proud of their women, folk and liked to feel that they were interested in civic and national matters and the children, also, were proud of their mothers who entered into public life. Among the most influential women's organisations in the United States was the Parent. Teachers' Association, composed largely of mothers and school teachers. This association dealt with any matter affecting the welfare of children. The Federated Women's Club covered a great many activities and one of the newest women's organisations in America, the Business and Professional Women's Club, also did fine work. The League of Women Voters comprised a group of women organised in every State to deal entirely with political problems and activities. Their object was to organise a citizenry which would take its political responsibility seriously by going to the polls to vote, while the members also made an intensive study of all proposed legislation.