The Washington herald., 1914-09-21
Feminism Not New.
BY MRS. LOIS X. MATHEWS

| Dean of women's Dept University of Wisconsin.
| There have been in the development of human
folk since the beginning of time two tendencies
the one toward indivduasm, the other toward social
responsibility in the largest sense. Men have been
for long adjusting these two tendencies within
themselves that they have almost ceased talking about
it, while discussing the situation with re-
gard to themselves it, orsooth it were brand new
| What is called the feminist" movement is as old
as women are; it is merely the new name for the
old attempt at self-realizaton. Its emergence into
prominence is due to the present insistence upon it
simultaneously and fervidly by many women in all
walks Of life.
Nor is it-this striving for the realization of ones
full apacities-inherently a selfish aim Never be-
fore, perhaps, have so many seen visions and
dreamed dreams" and their is at once source
of encouragement and a serious menace
First of ALL the college university must lay the
foundations in the classroom, by holding students to
discipline of the mind, bringing to a conclusion
as well they may any which they begin,
regardless of the drudgery here and there involved
in completing any piece OF work.
No one think feels that the last word has been
said upon womans education when it precisely dup-
Gates that OF man. The tremendous possibility Of
university courses in home economics when they are
properly grounded upon science and economics as a
firm intellectual basis and discipline make one stand
aghast.
But warning needs here to be sounded There
grave danger involved in pushing back far into
the college curriculum these pieces OF specifically
vocational work. Care must be taken that sufficient
background of general mental training and of real
experience of life shall have been acquired upon
which may be overlad this intensive and specialized
work.
Seif-pOyprnrneDt associations beIDf,1 in
developing in young sense of social respon-
siblity, is also system by which juniors become
advisers to freshmen girls. The limitation OF the
number of activities which girl may enter in col
lege helps concentrate interest in few things and
so develop a responsible attitude toward what is
undertaken.
How shall women be trained for social respon-
sbility
First by the development their fullest possible
extent of all their powers physical intellectual moral
and spiritual, TO the end that each woman may know
her powers and limitations In other words train
her individual help her to realize herself and
lead her TO divine discomfort with selfish individual
ism.
Second and at the same time teach her her in
esc9pabe obligation to the various groups into whose
she is born-the family. the social group
the civic group. Teach her by concrete tasks, by
working shoulder TO shoulder with other women that
and sympathy which make for the social
point of view.
Teach her by the attitude OF the institution OF
higher learning to which she looks for Inspiration
whether Immediately within its walls or longingy
from a remote horizon-that the only social expert
ence worth having is the sort the women like Miss
Addams have, the social experience that makes every
nan. woman child at in her presence because
IF the initiative sense that their ideals and inspira
ions at one.
Given such a point OF view and the tools with
which to work, and need not worry about achieve
ncnt for such responsibility is bound find its out
ct in service to the community. To provide such
raining and such sense OF responsibility to every
woman who desires it, or-as Mr.. Benson says, WHO
lesres to desire it," such is the obligation and the
possibility OF every institution OF higher learning