Omaha daily bee., 1912-04-20

Quisites. ~
mankind the priv
ileged sex. Not nature, which made her
Of a Trailer and weaker physique, and
with more nerves than man; that made
her subjest to ever disease that can rack
his body with pain. and then laid upon
her the additional agony OF motherhood.
No man, save the few who have been
tortured to death. ever endures any surf
fering comparable to that which a wo-
man undergoes every time child is
born.
What makes woman the privileged sex?
Not society, which draws away its skirt
from the woman who has sinned and
invites her male partner in guilt to din
ner. Not society. which opens its doors
TO any man with good coat on his
back, and even passable manners, with
out so much as an inquiry into his past
or an investigation into his present but
that requires a woman 10 show her pedl-
gTees, her birth certificate her bank
book and an affidavit that she is pos
sessed Of all the cardinal virtues before
she can even get a peek through the
keyhole. Where Mr.. Climber goes his
sisters may not also follow.
Where is woman the privileged sex?
Not In the church, which for a long time
denied her even the possession of a soul
and which denies her yet, in most faiths,
the privilege of priesthood and the right
to raise her voice and preach It is wo-
man who keep the church alive, who
raise the money 10 support it, and who
make up nineteenth of the congrega-
ton. but their only privilege is TO sweep
the floor and be menials in It. They form
the Ladies auxiliary. The men are the
real thing.
Where are woman the privileged sex?
Not in politics, which classes them With
the criminal, the ihiotic and the insane.
who alone are denied the privilege Of the
franchise. The ex-jailbird may vote, but
not the best and most intelligent woman.
Women own millions of dollars worth
of property, but they are not privileged
TO say, as the man taxpayer Is, what
taxes may be levied ON their property.
Women form half Of the population:
they must abide by the laws. bur. they
have not the privilege. as men have, TO
have voice in the making of those
laws. In only six states Of the union may
a woman hold even the smallest office
For every crumb Of representation wo-
men have gotten in politics they have
had TO fight hundred years war.
Where is woman the privileged sex?
Not in the eyes Of the law, which con-
siders her too feeble minded TO help make
the laws that govern her. yet holds her
responsible for breaking them. Not in
the law, which originally gave every par
ticie Of a worlans Individual property
10 her husband on her wedding day, and
which only in the last fifty years has
conceded her right to her own. Not in
the law. which only in eleven states and
the District OF Columbia, makes a mother
equal guardian with her husband in the
children she has borne. Not in the law.
which in some states makes married wo-
man q cfIattel and gives her husband the
right TO collect her wages. II she works
outside of her home. Not in the law,
which in many states denies married
woman the right to make a will without
his authorization. while he may do as he
pleases With his own without consulting
her.
Where is woman the privileged sex?
Not in the colleges, into which she has
fought her way against almost insup-
cradle odds. Woman has never been a
welcome, still less. invited guest In the
halls OF learning. 1t is not a privilege to
be born girl baby instead OF boy
baby If you want to tack Phi. d. after
your name. on the contrary, the mere
fact of sex is disqualification that bars
the woman student out of the most ia
nous universities.
Where Is woman the privileged sex?
Not in the labor market, where she has
10 do the same work for a smaller wage
than man, and where she is esteemed
70 be only in her proper sphere, when
she Is doing the Job that no man wants
10 do. Her sex is a handicap. not d help
in business, and every woman who works
is doing not only good work but better
work than a man would do, and for less
money, or else she would not be in the
place she is.
Where is woman the privileged sex?
Not in popular convention, which de
nands a thousand things more Of
woman than it does of man. 1t is con-
vention that forces women to go
through all the agony and work and
worry Of trying to be beautiful though
ugly, whereas men have the privilege
Of being as homely as nature makes
them. 1t is convention that forces women
to wear pounds Of false hair on their
heads, and straight frolt corsets and
high heeled shoes. and 10 go about clothed
in garments that torture them at every
turn. whereas men have the privilege Of
wearing clothes that are loose and COM
Portable. 1t is convention that makes
women smirk and smile, no matter how
they feel, whereas men have the privilege
of being honest and independent. and
using language to suit the situation
Where is woman the privileged stx2
In the home? Is She Would you rather
be the man who works eight hours a DAY
as a carpenter or a bricklayer, or his
wife, who works eighteen hours a day
Would you rather keep books all day IN
Q -tea- ouiet office, or cook and sew, and