"SUICIDAL RIVALRY OF WOMEN."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18900, 15 January 1927, Page 17

"SUICIDAL RIVALRY OF WOMEN."

♦ i TOO MANY INDUSTRIAL ' RANKS. i VIEWS OF A MEDICAL MAN. j (.PROM OL'X UW.V COSRBSroXDESTj LONDON, December 2. ! Dr. J. Fciiton, Medical Officer ol Kensington, in an address before the Institute of Hygiene, delivered an outspoken protest against rivalry between tho sexes in the field of industry as being an obstacle to the well-being ot the race. In his opinion, too many women m tho ranks of industry are performing tasks which should be undertaken by men. Among thest, the doctor included the jjirl typist and the yjrl sho- assistant, ami he suggested that .tne proper occupation for them was that ol domestic service. The speaker did not see any danger to society in the recognition of equal human rights tor both sexes if wo were also ready to recognise t hedivergence of their capabilities. l'> j however, we attempted to ignore thesa j laws, we were at onco landed in a sea of difficulties. "The suicidal rivalry ol women with their husbands and fathers in the field of labour is responsible," Dr. Fen ton said, ''for many'of the difficulties of the industrial situation to-day. AVhcn we allow women to treat men as their livals, to compete with them, and, by competition, to reduce persistently the earnings of men, we are doing our best to interfere with the welfare and happiness of the race. The wages of the husband and father being reduced by the entrance into his trade of the women who under-sell him, the wife and mother must turn' her back upon her home and give her working day to make up the' difference. In this way, the homes of our working classes are too often destroyed and the health ol the future generations sacrificed. "I think, generally speaking, jxa should have as an ultimate object the restoration of as many women as possible to their post of honour as 'Queens of the Hearth.' Provided that the man and woman can meet .suitable partners, I think it will be admitted on all hands that married life is the-happiest state of existence for adult persons of both sexes," Dr. Fenton advocated the restriction of the engagement of women in factories and" offices, where they were employed merely because their labour was chc'ap, where they were underselling men and -had no prospects for themselves. Routine work, such as typewriting, clerical work generally, serving behind counters in shops, and attending machinery in factories, should give employment to men at wages which would enable them to keep homes together. Let men have tho work and they would marry tho women displaced. For the girls of the factory, office, and shop who could not marry, domestic service would be a far more congenial : calling, provided the hours of labour and wages were satisfactory. ■< Other Views. Mr Gordon gdfridgo diners from Dr. Fenton: ■.-As'-far a» «>vr kind of business is concerned, Dr. Denton is quite,mistaken. From the point ol view of ability, in many departments women are much better than men. It would be a very serious matter it women were withdrawn from shops, ihe 20th century distributing house has been developed from the standpoint of women, assistants/who have been educated, drilled, and trained to a high state of efficiency." ' • Miss Ellen AVilkinson, M.P.s opinion is as follows:-"It is a pity that Dr. Fenton's social prejudice,: which would condemn as many women as possible to domestic'service, has weighed more with him than Ins own medical knowledge. ■ Such statements br«4 ridicule on the medical profession hecause they are so obviously absurd. Miss .Susan Lawrence. M.1., sajs: "Girl shop assistants and typists are playing a useful part in the. work ot the country. If 'Dr. ronton were to consult"business people' he would-Unci that to take away women assistants wbuld.be a great blow to industry. 1 do not think there is undue, rivalry between the sexes'in business. Miss Florence Underwood, secretary of the "Women's Freedom thinks the real reason why men object to women in industry is because thev fear th«ir competition. They must pull themselves together and mrke themselves equal -competitors with women. It is recognised on all hands now that women are more energetic, more 'thorough, pnd more conscientious than men. and it is these good qualities which- have enabled them to oust men from the positions they formerly held. ■