The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-09
woMEN's DOUBLE BURDEN.

A declining birth rate among native
American families has been noted for
several years by sociologists and
statisticians, but no remedy has
seemed to be in sight until the war
brought about larger entry of wo-
men into business and industry. 1t
now is proposed to place upon women
the double burden of bearing children
and earning their support.
A study of the subject by Mount
Holyoke college students under the di-
rection of DIR. Amy Hewes, professor
Of economics and sociology. it is an
nounced, reveals the fact that at the
present rate of decline a family two
generations hence will have on the
average less than one child.
The families of the undergraduates
at Mount Holyoke were taken as
basis of the study as representative
OF native American stock. Less than
one per cent of the students were for
eign born, while 81 per cent were ma
tive born of native parents. Data were
obtained by the members of the class
in statistics from $40 families of the
students as to the number of children
of their own mothers, of their grand
mothers, and of their great grand
mothers on the maternal side.
The report of the research shows
that while the average number of chill
dren in the families of the great
grandmothers was 6.19, and in the
grandmothers' families 500, the num-
Der shrunk 20 s.15 children in the
mothers families.
THE average number of children in
the families of the present genera
tion," the report reads. was found to
be slightly in excess of three. which
is only a little more than half of the
average number of children in the
grandmothers' generation. If a sim
liar decrease should take place for
another two generations the average
number of children would be less than
one"
The cause Of the decline in birth
rate Professor Hewes attributes to eco
nomic conditions and to late mar
riages. The most general cause she
finds to be the emphasis upon high
er standard of living and the eondi-
tions which make increased effort
necessary to realize that standard.
Included in this higher standard of
living is the cost of education ITSELF"
the report reads. 1T is more custom
airy than formerly to send children to
college and to 1engthen the period of
study by professional training"
Professor Hewes suggests that the
obstacle of late marriages could be re-
moved to a large extent if the wife
continued her work after marriage,
thus adding to the income of the fam
lily. In this way the economic pres
sure, acting to discourage large fam
lilies, might be relieved.
at is possible that the economic po-
sition OF the married woman may
change in such a way as to affect the
size Of the family" the report states
THE standard of living may some
times be maintained by use of the
professional training of the woman for
further income after marriage. In
stances of this are not so uncommon
today as formerly. The continuation
OF professional life by married wo-
men. at least on a part time basis
may be expected to occur more fire.
uuently as modern living arrange
ments make for the release of time
formerly devoted to household cares
Should the married college bred
woman of the future contribute her
earnings 70 the support of the family
as frequently as the wife of the wage
Garner of today. 1t is possible that her
marriage may take place almost as
early as that of the woman in indus
try and that she may have as many
children