Evening star., 1935-04-24
FEMINIST OUTLOOK
DIVIDES SESSION
Both Strong and Weak
Notes of Optimism Struck
at Discussion.

Both strong and weak notes OF
optimism for the future OF "fem1nlsIn
we're struck last night as a group OF
women prominent in political and
professional life led panel discus
sion on the subject before the League
of Women Voters.
the complete equality Of women wit''
men-also received q number OF other
definitions as the speakers viewed the
subject from many angles and painted
various philosophical, pessimiStic and
"tight-lipped" pictures of its future.
What we have done to prove we
are better men in business and
politics" said Mrs. Emily Newell
Blair, chairman of the Consumers
Advisory Board, "has been to so con-
vince men of our ability that they
will now listen to and respect the
ideas of women. Having shown this,
we have reached the second stage
where we can make our contribution
rs women.
Can Raise Living Standard.
1--WE do have contribution to
make, and that is to raise the stand
ard of living. We must interest
ourselves more in determining just
what the standard of living shall be
while the men figure out ways and
means of supporting the standard.
Mrs. Blair said there are two kinds
of feminiSm. The one which holds
that women should be equal to men
by allowing them to do things exactly
like men and have the same oppor-
tunitieS, she said, confuses the terms
equality and identity. In the other
brand, she said, women have an
equality in that the things they dc
are of equal value and of equal i'm
portance. This type, she said, holds
that women have distinct contribu-
ton to make, and does not confuse
identity and equality.
A somewhat pessimistic viewpoint as
to Woman's place in the profession:
was expressed by Miss Martha Strayer
newspaper woman. Asserting she was
speaking from a reportorial point o1
view and would not attempt to edi-
torialize, Miss Strayer simply raised 6
few questions such as "Do women have
as good judgment as men in profes'
sional work? Do We approach thing!
The way men do? Have we the back.
ground necessary in certain profeS.
sions?
Future Held Conjectural.
"The future of women, as I see it
is conjectural," she went on. For one
thing, women have to spend too much
time dressing nowadays"
Touching a humorous note, Mis-!
Strayer said she favors a 30-hour-
work week divided equally between
man and wife-"in order that man.
span of life may be increased ane
the quality of the family improved.
Miss Levinia Engle. sociologist ant
member of the Maryland State
House of Delegates, expressed the be.
lief that what lies ahead for womer
depends entirely upon the tempo o1
the coming generation, the social and
economic bases of future society
Whether the competitive basis of tht
present civilization must be scrappet
is a question, she said. She addet
that if one speculates enough, one car
arrive at many conclusions.
Miss Mary Anderson, chief of th'
Labor Departments Women's Bureau
spoke from the point of view of thu
working woman and stressed the be-
lief that the standard Of living mus
be increased for this class. She de-
clared, however, the living standard o1
women as whole must be raised be.
fore this can be accomplished.
Following the formal talks, Mrs
Elizabeth Friedman, who presided over
the panel, called upon members o1
the league to express their opinions
as to the future of women in business
political and economic life.