Evening star., 1928-10-28
New Woman of Europe


new ideas brought from all parts Of the
world by the Dutchmen, who have al
ways been seagoing people. have obvi-
ously affected the status Of their women
folk.
At a luncheon arranged by Rosa
Manus. veteran suffrage worker, one
met women engaged independently,
in law, medicine, banking, teaching,
journalism and other professions. They
spoke fluently and aggreSsively OF their
work.
There remains, however, more than a
veStigs of class distinction, and here
women seemed to have advanced further
in the professions than in business. The
business women have difficulty both in
getting and in holding positions, al
though they are making strenuous
efforts for advancement The club
movement, which has enlisted many
thousands of gainfully employed women
in America, has barely touched either
Belgium or Holland There are not half
a dozen business women's clubs in both
In our country there is little question
today as to whether or not women
shall become wage earners That coun-
try is Germany'S. Germany's loss OF
man power and her staggering debts
make the business woman not only well
come. but necessary. In addition the
well-to-do women who. desiring TO be
assured of dependable If small income,
| had invested their entire principal in
government securities are now penniless.
| They may choose between the bread
line and such employment as an un-
| trained, middle-age woman can get.
| Thus have fallen the barriers with
which a Kaiser completely enveloped
nations women within the home, the
church. the children" There are many
( OF the older generation who still believe
these three alone should and do contain
woman's greatest happiness, and that
| in any event women should choose be-
tween the home and the job. But the
question is no longer germane. There
remains no choice.
Women in Parliament.
The Weimar constitution of eight
years ago gives to men and women
equal rights and responsibilities. A
dozen or more German women now
hold seats In Parliament. They divide
upon strictly party lines and sponsor
few bills as feminist group.
German workers are thoroughly
unionized, and in this the women work.
ers are no exception. Der Verband der
Weiblichen Handels und Buroanges-
tellten, the League of Women'S Com
membership of between $4,000 and Co.,
900 members. It seeks to protect the
interests of its members by promoting
beneficial legislation and securing for
them suitable employment. Schools and
Summer camps are maintained and
group insurance furnished.
Professional women and business
owners seek to protect their interests
through 'gattels," which are similar al
though not identical organizations.
But although conditions are hard,
women work freely and fairly inde-
pendently, and always with a degree OF
efficiency and scientific approach
equaled in few other countries. It is
interesting to note, in one of the Berlin
department stores, the adoption of the
most advanced and approved American
methods. There are rest and recreation
rooms, training classes, and even con-
tinuation school. Since working hours
are from 7:30 am. to $50 pm, with a
three-hour rest period, every effort is
made to give the employe not only
comfort, but opportunity for self-im-
provement.
While Germany. theoretically, offers
the greatest latitude to women in busi-
ness and the professions, their progress
must be greatly handicapped by the
country'S financial condition. AS an
example, after the first 200 marks ($8),
an average salary month for clerical
worker, 20 per cent tax is imposed. |
There Is also the traditional German |
male attitude toward women, which |
cannot have been outgrown so quickly. |
the economic life must find great difn- |
Guilty in assimilating so large group |
Of unframed women workers.
With 1t all, however, there Is rare
strength and character In the German
business women, who say frankly: I'VE
and our people are under a social
cloud. We know that our lives must
henceforth be burdened with great
financial responsibilities. We should
pay. We want to pay. We are not
blind, though, to the fact that these
our opportunities. However, If we may
not have the chance to progress and be
happy, which otherwise might have
been ours, we are glad that the Ameri-
can business women may have them"
Out Of real tribulation has come great
power.
The business women of Switzerland
seem more nearly to have approximated
American ideals than any other CoYti-
mental group. Practically all occupa-
tionS have their woman workers, ex-
cept wood cutting, cattle tending and
cheese making. In fact, 28 per cent Of
all Swiss employees are women. Wages,
however, as In all European countries,
are low. running from to 20 francs
q day.
Situation in Switzerland.
The Swiss Federation Of Business
Women has a membership Of $500, with
branches in seven or eight cities. Dali
helm, the beautiful home of the Berne
Club, would be credit to any city. It's
restaurant Is Self-Supporting and it's
unique method of making hot chocolate
without cooking, a process patented by
a Swiss woman, would intrigue any
American manufacturer.
The outstanding achievement Of the
business women of this country, how
ever, is undoubtedly Saffa, the national
Swiss exposition of business women,
held during late August and September
of this year. This project was con-
ceived, planned, organized and executed
by women. Its primary purpose was
to find market for women's work,
although it must also have been a great
stimulus to all of Switzerland's wage
earning women.
Saffa occupied five and a half acres
OF land on the outskirts of Berne. It's
many buildings were devoted to the
professional, commercial and scientific
interests of women There wasa mod
el home with all modern appliances,
building for beaux arts and arts
decoratifs, a commodious auditorium
where Swiss womens clubs held con-
ferences and conventions, a temperance
cafeteria and many other buildings
There were exhibits of all kinds of
work by and for women.
To have united in at least one great
project, the women of a nation which,
like Gaul, divides naturally into three
parts-German, French and Italian
and in so doing to have brought to-
gether as a working unit Protestant,
Catholic and Jewish women, on a con-