The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-10
DR. BARKER SPEAKS
 PLAINLY ID WOMEN
 ON VITAL PROBLEMS
Attacks Double Standard and Says Women Foster It. Speaks on Duty of Moth
 CT to Daughter

Pointing out the duties of a mother to her child, especially her daughter, attacking the double standard and accusing women of the upper stratas of society of fostering it, were the chief points made by pr. Charles k. Barker, the well known health scientist, who spoke to joint meeting of the women's clubs yesterday after noon at the Southern club. Dr. Barker devoted five minutes of his time to the discussion of the moving picture and the effect that the so-called problem play has on the minds of girls and boys of high school age.
 There is only one way that the pro- duction of these plays in Birmingham or any other city can be stopped, sand Dr. Barker. That will be when the fathers and mothers themselves agree to boycott them and live up to the agree ment. A concerted movement against such pictures would stop them forever.
 The talk was very plain and straight forward. When ripple of applause greeted pr. Bankers statement that one mistake in the life of young women does not constitute fall, the speaker pointed his finger at the audience and said: SINGLE STANDARD
 You society women cannot make me believe that you are advocates of the single standard As long as there is not case with which to demonstrate. you say glibly that the single standard is the only standard, but when a young woman in your midst makes a mistake, down goes your heel on her and she IS never allowed to rise. You will be charit- able, it is true, but she is not received.
 There are thousands of young women who have made mistakes who could and would come back and make perfectly splendid women if the hands of other women were not so bitterly turned against them.
 There are several ways in which women may help to bring about single standard. They may warn their daugh- ters against the dangers of allowing familiarites from young men the sport that some years ago was commonly called spooning they can receive the young girls who have made one mistake and are trying to come back; they can shut the doors of their homes to man WnO IS not lF1NS HIS llle Cltdli, anu ietSef but not least, they can see to it that their daughters are always dressed modestly and without suggestiveness.
 CONVENTIONAL CLOTHES
 That last point is one of grave im- portance from the standpoint of the average man. It is my observation that young people may go in swimming to- gether dressed in bathing suits and not even think of any evil thing in connec- tion with it. But when young woman goes to a party where conventional clothes are worn and appears with q gown which is half concealing and half revealing, the effect is very bad on her young men friends
 In speaking of the duties of mother to her child, pr. Barker took up the first important step, which is the neces- sity for cultivating the physical strength and health of every growing girl in order that she may pass a strong constitution on to her children.
 REARING CHILDREN
 Obedience to the laws of the home is, according to Dr. Barker, the next most important thing in rearing children. Men and women who have learned to obey the law are, according to my ob- servation, the freest people on earth, said pr. Barker.
 ''The third most important thing m rearing children is to teach little chil- dren the laws of sex life at very early age just as soon as they begin asking questions about where they came from. The story when told properly is very sim pie and very beautiful. It should be il- lustrated with flowers and birds.
 T am not in favor of teaching this subject in the public schools, but unless women and men come to see their duty to their children in this matter it will be necessary to do so."