WOMEN LOOKED ON AS CURIOSITIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17907, 24 July 1926, Page 10

WOMEN LOOKED ON AS CURIOSITIES.

MISS ELLEN WILKINSON, M.P., DEFENDS HER SEX. “In London newspapers women are written of as if they were curiosities or strange animals.” was Miss Ellen Wilkinson, M.P.’s, complaint when she took part in a debate. “Are Women Too Obtrusive?” at the London School of Ecenomics. recently. It was one of the series in which eminent men and women are taking part on behalf of the funds of a London hospital. The man who shared the limelight on this occasion was Major Walter Elliott. M.P., writes Freda Sternberg in the “Herald,” Melbourne. So long as the strike lasted, and space in such newspapers as were published was wanted for matters of the moment, woman has been allowed to rest in peace; neither her shortcomings nor her virtues have been discussed. But now that things are said to be once more normal mere man is M at it again.” Almost at one and the same moment a dignitary of the church and a well-known doctor have

been attacking the eternal feminine, though the latter was mostly in its favour. The church head announced in no mild manner that the modem young woman is more wickedly seductive to the young man than Eve ever was—or words to that effect. He made a stirring appeal to men, young and old, asking them to fight “ the immodesty of present-day women’s dress and manners.” One of the things that Dr Graham Little said in favour of these women was: “Some of the disappearing diseases might be said to be due to the fact that the costumes of women of the present day have immeasurably increased their health.” Woman Like It. But women, are enjoying the limelight which is being thrown upon them. This fact was well illustrated at yesterday’s debate, when they were well in the majority. Most of them had a twinkle in the eye too, as if they really thought that the sex war was really over—in fact, the chairwoman, Miss Clemence Dane, said as much on

their behalf when she rose at the end of the debate.

Among- other things, when she replied to Major Elliot’s attack on her <ex. Miss Ellen Wilkinson said, as she contended that women did not make themselves obtrusive by their dress:

"f have never thought that plus fours were tin obtrusive. Wc are trying to lead men back to a much more sensible way of dressing, but we are not insisting upon it. Rather are we indicating by personal example how much better it would be for them to dress as sensibly ,as women instead of wearing the collection of tight-fitting tubes they affect.” Too Unobtrusive. Again the woman. M.P. endeavoured to illustrate how splendidly the average woman is content to work in the background. In doing this she went back to the strike, speaking of it as “the action of men demonstrating the injustices to which the present social system condemned them.” She asked her male opponent to “just think of all the injustices to which the social system condemns women. Think what it would be like if_ one day there was a general strike of housewives, who shouldered brooms and refused to carry on with their jobs, but obtrusively insisted on their rights.” .Miss Wilkinson remarked in conelusion.: "I am amazed at the gentleness ot women. They have been the beasts of burden of our civilisation. Even to-day the wife is an unpaid drudge. I wish women would be more obtrusive and demand to be treated as human beings. It is not obtrusiveness but the struggle for bare existence that makes some women insist on being treated as human beings and paid accordingly.” Although Major Elliot indicated ■that, he had no desire to see women back in the position they occupied in the Earlv Victorian days, he suggested that it would be an act of wisdom on behalf of the sex if its leaders would indicate that ‘‘it was high time that women should again accept the position ot man’s equal instead of the dominant position of superior which they were now attempting to exer Sex War Over. “Men and women should be regarded as human beings,” he argued. each contributing to the common lifeWomen lose their dignity when they emphasise their feminine character.” In conclusion Major Elliot expressed his opinion that ‘‘the feminist movement having won its position and place in the polity of the country ran a risk of losing it if it tried to go too far.’ “The movement is j n danger of becoming the plaything of faddists.” be warned, adding. “It is high time ve retraced our steps an <i t ] iat women instead, of claiming superiority .con-' tented themselves with the portion, of Equals.”

To this remark Mips Wilkins©* retorted with spirit : “in that ideal State of society to which Major Elliot and his party looked back with regret women might have had privileges but they had starvation wages ’’ It was at this stage that Miss Clemence Dane threw oil on the troubled waters by insisting that “the sex war is really o*cer.”