WOMEN ARE TOO IMPETUOUS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 23, 2 May 1947, Page 3

WOMEN ARE TOO IMPETUOUS

DEMAND FOR EQUALITY WITH MEN COMPETENT IN MANY PROFESSIONS That women will make surer progress towards equality with men if they are not too impetuous in their demands is the opinion of Mrs P. von Geusau, the only woman member of the Public Service Commission of Inquiry on Women’s Status. “We can never claim full equality with men,” Mrs von Geusau said recently. “Our physical make-up prevents this. “There are. many spheres in which we can shine and have proved our ability. . “But we shall never gain much by being too impulsive. This only antagonises the powers that be, particularly the men. “Women know that they can gain more by diplomacy, so let us work calmly and quietly towards our own ends.” Tremendous strides had been made by women during the last few decades. They had proved themselves competent in many professions and trades once, considered entirely a man’s realm.

In South Africa women were being elected as members of inquiry commissions, boards* and to other responsible posts, and their opinions were sought when important decisions were to be made. The old cry that men were more capable than women was rapidly dying down.

“Once and for all we have been lifted out of the dark ages of insularity, and there can be no looking back,” she said. “It is an economic necessity that we progress still further. But don’t let us be too hasty.” She was a great feminist as regards the guardianship of children, Mrs von Geusau continued. She felt certain that improvements in the unequal marital status would be made as a result of the investigations of the Women’s Legal Disabilities Commission.

“But have women seriously thought of the inevitable repercussions on their home life that their concerted move for greater independence will have?” she asked.

“Of course, there' are many cases where women in professions can manage harmoniously to balance both, but they are in the minority.” Discussing the Civil Service ban on married women, Mrs von Geusau said: “Can’t phrases such as ‘Why bar married women from public services?’ and ‘Married women can often fufil a post more suitably’ are heard almost every day. .But has sufficient thought been given to the matter, have the pros and cons been seriously weighed? I think not. “I may be called old fashioned in this fast-moving, modern world, but I maintain that the happiness of the home must be a woman’s first consideration always. She owes it to her husband’ and her children.” The deterioration of home live was a dangerous factor in the uncertain state of the world today. A glance back into history illustrated that nations flourished most during the era when homes were considered sacred.

Mrs von Geusau has had many opportunities of studying the aims and needs of women.

As provincial commandant of the Transvaal, Bechuanaland, and Swaziland S.A.W.A.S., she was during the’war brought into daily contact with women, both in and out of uniform.

She gained an intimate knowledge of the requirements of women working en masse on routine clerical duties in which there was often danger of the loss of all initiative.