The Scheme of Things

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1932, Page 7

The Scheme of Things

By M.H.C.

The growing necessities of the times, ;he change in'conditions of life and ivork, and the newly-awakened conscience of women in regard to their work in the world have all combined to bring women together in confer3nce, and to inspire them to constitute new societies for their own advaniage and protection. The "Open Door International for the Emancipation of the Woman Worker" is a lengthily named new organisation which held its 3econd conference at Stockholm in August last. The 0.D.1, was founded in England, and then/formed into an international body in 1929. The growth of the movement has been phenomenal (states "Dawn' 3), and lelegates were present at the conferjnce from ten countries—Great Britain, Finland, Germany, Poland, Czechoilovakia, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, J.S.A., and Belgium, France, Greece, ?alestine, Chili, and Eumania-Hnngary ill sent apologies and expressions of interest and sympathy.' Over 200 dele;ates were present officially at the openng, and the conference aroused much )üblic interest. The Press gave it jreat prominence, and the weekly jourlals solicited articles from the leadng delegates. The Stockholm Town Council gave a civic welcome to the ielegates in their world-famous' Town Sail; tea was served in the magnificent Golden Hall, and altogether the entertaining was on a lavish and elaborate scale. There are 12 women on the Town Council of Stockholm out of 100 members. The object of the 0.D.1, is .(1) to secure that a woman shall be free to work, and protected as a worker en the same lines as a man, and that regulations and legislation dealing with conditions, hours, payment, entry, and training, shall be based on the nature of the work, not upon the sex of the worker; and (2) to secure for a woman, irrespective of marriage or child-birth, the right at all times to decide whether or not she shall engage in paid work, and to ensure that no legislation or regulations shall deprive her of this light."

It looks as if the efforts made to rertr\t the work of women, or to hedge it round with, difficulties that do not exist for the other sex are rousing a definite opposition on 'the part of the women of the world. They have been yery slow to realise these conditions, and much time, thought, and consideration have been given to the whole matter. It is plain that women, in general, are "constitutional people," anxious to do what is right, and to move with care in big affairs. The whole matter bristles with difliculty, 'and the. anxiety should be to act for the benefit of the community generally, without sex bias at all. The old saying of the "pinching shoe" has to be kept in mind, and it must be realised that it is the women who have felt the disabilities placed<upon them as a sex. Sometimes these were only placed through ignorance, and with very kind intentions, while at other times the intentions were merely selfish, oppressive, unjust, and likely to damage the character and self-respect of women in general. The natural dre '. of mankind is that they will not be able much longer to command the medium .and highlypaid positions in life, but-the women will be able to take a proportion of 'them, and will thus raise the'-standard «)f efficiency through that industry and

attention to detail which, have been inculcated in the course of centuries of hard^and sad conditions.

The question of equal pay for equal work resolved itself (during discussion) into, the fact that women do not receive the same opportunities as men to get the training to fit them for equal pay. I was shown that in' the Post, Telegraph, and Civil Services of a number of countries women cannot get the training, or sit -sfor the examinations which will fit them for high posts. Therefore at the root of the equal pay question lies that of equal training and opportunity. The "right of married women to engage in paid work" was one of,the most keenly discussed questions. Great feeling was shown because of the world-wide attempt (under the guise of meeting .depression and unemployment) 'to dismiss married .women. A great many instances of gross injustice and illogical action were cited, and .it was unanimously agreed that a married woman should have the right at all times to decide whether or not she should engage in paid work, and to assert that it' is against the public interest, and an infringement on the rights of a. woman as a "free person" that she should be refused employment on account of her marriage, or be required to resign in the event of her marriage. It was also contended that the ''institution of marriage,'^ will be seriously menaced by the action of dismissing married women. Women, it was stated,.need work td assist, or totally support, homes; they have a keen interest in their work or their profession, often obtained after much labour, and they want intensely the result of their labour. If women must not work when married, then promotion will' be hampered, for they will be looked upon as only second-class workers, and will not be considered as certain permanent members of a staff. This should be remembered by some single women who are apt to take a selfish view. It is very interesting to find that this big conference took the same point of view exactly as that recently decided upon by a, majority of the women who composed the National Council of Women in this country;

The subjects of Women and Night Work and Women, in Dangerous Trades were also discussed, and the feeling strongly expressed was that these should be made possible and safe for both sexes (as has largely - been, done of late times), and that neither sex should be required to run risks while at work. The advisability of women joining trades unions with men was another keenly discussed matter, the feeling being expressed that as the women are always considerably in a minority, their interests are apt to be shelved or receive a luke-warm consideration which would not exist if they were in council by themselves. At the same time it was decided "that some women, should remain in mixed unions, as these proved to be a valuable ground for propaganda. In all, the meetings were of much importance to women, specially considering their world-wide representation, and it is certain that too protective . legislation exercised towards women is not pleasing to them on the grounds that it increases their, disabilities, "cramps their style," and damages their self-respect and character as reasonable human beings.