WOMAN’S PLACE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20833, 17 June 1939, Page 5

WOMAN’S PLACE

PART IN THE COMMUNITY PROGRESS TOWARDS EQUALITY STEPS YET TO BE MADE Tasis yet to be accomplished to bring women to a state of equality with the rest of the community are a rational psychology, a mechanical civilisation, an accessible knowledge of birth-control, without which a woman is unable to plan her life, the abolition of military values, and greater elasticity of the social and economic system, in the opinion of Miss M. Mawson, secretary of the Y.W.C.A. in Hamilton, who gave an address on “The Place of Women in the Community" at a meeting organised by the Left Book Club last night. Equality for women, she said would make for wiser, happier, more mature, and more vigorous state of human beings. Miss Mawson outlined the historical aspect of women’s place in the community and also traced the progress being made towards equality. Although women received political equality with men some time ago. that position was at the present time

neither stable nor complete, she said. From the beginning of civilisation the position of women had been fairly good in that they had freedom and in that they were necessary for the welfare of the community. Later that position became worse, however, as more wealth and prosperity was acquired by civilisation and -women became merely evidence of a man's wealth, which severely limited their freedom. In feudal Europe, however, a woman was able to administer large estates in the absence of her husband and females were permitted to enter professions. Women In Industry Women took their place in industry hv being forced to work during the industrial revolusion in the 18th century. Bad housekeeping became associated with women in industry, and their wealth became the, property of their husbands. Women had since become good workers, being fond of their employment, conscientious, and having a faculty for detail, but- from the employer's point of view they were docile and had not the muscular strength of men, although probably more dexterous. A disadvantage of female labour to employers was staled to be that women were less regular, but Miss Mawson said she did not. think that had been proved. Women in professions had been kept. Jo the lower grades and their wealth as a class was poor, it being liHicull

for a woman to earn more than £250 a year; the reasons having been stated to* be that females were less secure employees, being more prone to sickness, less strong, the factor of potential motherhood, greater domestic ties, and the legend that they have no dependents. She gave instances disproving many of these claims. Stress on the tradition that women should surrender their profession upon marriage had hampered the progress of the female, the speaker considered. Most people realised a value in the comfort and privacy of the home. The price the community paid for that was very high, however. Often domestic tics were used as an excuse by women who did not want to enter a profession. and that tended towards laziness. Age of Transition Miss Mawson considered that pay should he either on merit or on need, thus eliminating the margin of difference between the return to women and that of men. Elaborating on her theme, she said the social system was at present in an ace. of transition. The mental attitude regarding women's equality was the main factor and it was not. a matter of law. The chivalry complex of n.an was a difficulty, and there was frailly'. It was hard to make new standards, but the speaker could see nr. reason why girls should not pay lor entertainment when in company with men. Men resented such a pro-

’ posal. however, she thought. \ few i order of chivalry was needed to bring j equality of independent human be- ! iu ?*- j Dealing with progress nlreadv made. « Miss Mawson said rrm-t advance lo- < wards equality of women had been J made in the Scandinavian countries.