WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19171, 30 November 1927, Page 11

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.

TO THE EDITOR 07 THE PRESS. Sir, —In your issue of Friday last your correspondent, "E. 5.," writing on the subject of divorce, postulates that the largeness of the number of petitions I'or divorce arises solely from transgression on the part of woman. This is not true. I doubt if it is true that even the larger number are due to this. At any rate, man does occasionally transgress the laws of morality and fair play. One. cannot but feel sympathy with your correspondent, "R. 8.," if only because in the main he writes so temperately yet does he state the case fairly when he says that tho "stupid belief is- still accepted that the latter (man) alone should be a constant monetary help to his parents"? I know —and doubtless many others of your readers also know—of homes where the daughters are the sole contributors to the support of aged parent or parents, notwithstanding the fact that theso parents, have sons living and earning comfortable salaries. Further, tho aged require attention other than monetary support which few men are either fitted or disposed to give. As for "It.B.'s" statement that, "thanks to the male brute, a girl, as a rule, is without financial obligations throughout life": this is alraurd, and obviously far from the truth. It is a pity that "Agricola" and "A Female Who Realises Her Inferiority" write so acrimoniously. "Woman gains no dignity by expressing herself in tho manner of an amazfon, a virago, or a misogamist. Such an attitude, only serves to give verisimilitude to "E.S.'s" implied accusation of inferiority. I am no man-hater. I have worked for and with men too long (nearly twenty-one years), and found them too decent for that. One appreciates the point of view of "E.S." and ;'R.B." That the incursion of woman into the realm of competitive employment is making more acute tho problem of unemployment anlbng men is a serious matter, and one which we cannot but deplore; but there is also the woman's point of view; man has failed to. support her, so she. must support herself: and it is natural that she should seek to do it in a way best suited to her tastes and aptitude. I have tried domestic duties in my mother's home (I still do a good share of them), and I have tried shorthand and typewriting. I must say I prefer tho latter, so very naturally (leaving out the question of social stigma wrongly attached to domestic work for hire) I choose office work before domestic service. True, we women' accept less wages than a man would dare offer a man for like work; if wo didn't, wo should never get employment—and employment we must live. Domestic duties won't absorb all the women who must earn their own living, and farm work isn't women's work. Only social revolution and a complete readjustment of values will solve the problem.— Yours, etc., R.R.M.