Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-05
It Will Happen to Britains Woman Workers?

lower level than In America, but thev
sssnnd d is better THAI SS Ed
and the position OF woman teacher4
Is very unsatisfactory. since they are
paid at much lower rates than men
M sSr work admittediy ssSrsl; I saw
which the qualifications are democ>
racy and internationalism. She Is for
the moment less concerned about
women in industry than for the task
she spoke OF the woman's vote as q
great safeguard in industry as else.
where.
The secretaries of the woman's
Woman's Industrial Council think
very hopefully OF the future DR..
Marion Philips told me that voting
power was simplifying all the WON.
ems problems. Miss Franklin said
that parliamentary candidates OF all
parties were anxious to ascertain
womens wishes, and to put their case
in parliament, They telegraph or
phone" she said, land say they want
woman speakers. and will vote in
parliament for the things that wom-
en- want If they can learn what they
are"
She confessed that the magnitude
of. this political change was surpris-
the woman voters influence might be
loss at future elections. when she Is
not so unknown quantity. In the
meantime the conditions are sucT
fun share in deciding the problems
of the world reconstruction. Miss
Franklin thinks that they will soon
rise to their rightful level In profess
SionS.
VIII the woman workers go back
to domestic service? This is what
every housekeeper is asking. They
viii if it Is made pleasant to them.
This is an occupation in which the
demand exceeds the supply and
moneys worth in the shape of COM
fort and fxity OF tenure is more to
be considered than wages. Some girls
who have found that the freedom OF
factory life means only freedom to
enjoy yourself when you are too tired
to go out, will not be averse to do
nestle service under reasonable con-
ditions and women who have for four
years done their own work in the
usual inconvenient English house will
know how to make allowances.
~
Still, when all is said we are only
guessing: no one knows what will
happen in this little island. There
are 100000 of Britons and 100000
men will next year return from the
war and begin life again. The hordes
of men in munition works and gov
eminent offices will most of them
have reshuffled themselves before the
soldiers come home. How many mil
lions the war shook out of grooves
and peace must put back l do not
know. When we come to women there
are a million and quarter women
in munitions factories who Will be
sent adrift Those who do not go home
will go into other employment the
women they displace must go home
or be resettled. AT this rate more
than half the grown-up population
will be starting afresh. Britain Is not
afraid of the prospect, but 1T would
be rash to prophesy how 1t will work
out. But there are some bogieS that
will not any longer frighten women
looking for work.
1t isn't women's work.
1t Is hard.
1t needs patience.
1t needs training.
Women can do mems work. women
can do hard work, women can perse-
we're, women can get training. Even
the worst enemy Of all, You are too
old" which used to confront the
women at twenty-eight. has moved
on twenty years or SO. Women are
no longer afraid of life, women don't
mind hardship, women are not afraid
of being ridiculous, women do not
wish to be pitied. Women reckon
themselves as human beings and their
world takes them at that valuation
and will give them their chance.
Copyright 1918. by Edward Marshall.l