The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-04
Youth TODAY
HarbOrS Less
Sex Illusion
Conclusion Reached in
Comment Of Magazine
Writer'S Views.
BY DOROTHY ID. BROMLEY
Times Special Writer

4 > MAI SaIeL C44k4l banning s
Il theory that men are critical Of
a sex which has become competitive
and expensive whose morality
has become erratic. undisciplined
and unreliable and whose social
cost is no longer justified by their
domestic industry nor by the ex-
tent Of their child-bearing.
There's a certain amount Of
validity 10 the argument she pre-
sents in the August HarpCr's. A
number OF us observed a full 10
years ago that the American woman
Of the leisure claSS-thanks 70 the
industrial revOlutiOn-was IL a fair
way TO becoming inactive, knowing
nothing about labor, except for
what she experienced IN the deliv-
cry room. Even when she has had
10 skimp on her budget during the
depression the non-producing wife
has still been in the position of TAX
ing more out Of the pot than she
put IN.
Yet WOmen'S responsiveness is only
part of their Offense in mems eyes,
argues Mrs. Banning Men still lift
their hats to women. but with an
inner reservation that they didn't
have when they swept the ground
with their plumes.
Through the centuries it has
pleased men TO believe the Lily
Barts Notwithstanding that women
existed TO preserve the virtue of the
world" But now they have a grow
ing suspicion that women are con-
cerned neither with good works nor
with their own morals
Changing Views Indicated
What worries Mrs. Banning is
that not only men but college boys
are beginning to look askance at the
other sew.
The boys admire their girl friends
for their gaiety, their charm and
beauty. but, like their fathers. they
think women are expensive, and
they miStrust them. one Sophisti-
Gated lad went so far as to say to
her Men are better than women"
and she reports that mothers of her
acquaintance have heard their sons
cast similar aspersions.
II boys do harbOr this resentment
the girls should think seriously
about their relations with the other
sex. But I question whether there
are as many jaundiced young men
as Mrs Banning thinks.
The college boys from all parts of
the country whom 1 have met this
summer seem to have no more sex
prejudice than they have race pre-
judice Perhaps they are more en-
lightened than their fellows. for
they have thought a good deal
about economic and social problems.
The only veStige of the double
standard which I detected in them
was a lack of respect for fast"
girls who will let almost any man
go the limit" with them.
If II well-bred girls permitted such
liberties I should share Mrs. Ban
nings fears But I have reason to
believe there are still a great many
girls who fight shy of an emotional
ENHANCEMENT that is not based on
deep affection and friendship.
If the girl has her own sense of
integrity the man whom she frankly
loves-mOre often than not in an
ticipatiOn OF marriage - certainly
does not think of her as morally
deficient" On the contrary. he re-
Spects her for her honesty in admit
ting the drive of emotion.
Vanishing Illusions
So am not as pessimistic as Mrs.
Banning. While I see the same
danger signals that she sees, I am
inclined to think the younger gen.
Grafton as a whole Is closer to "a
friendly and equable understanding
between the sexes" based on "a fine
mental and emotional relationship"
than has been any previous genera
ton. There are fewer illusions be-
tween the sexes. and that Is all to
the good
The miSOgyniStS, both young and
old. are no new phenomena. These
male egOists always have existed,
Just as shallow and selfish women
have always existed. To initiate their
own egOs the misogynists must con-
slider themselves superior to women
in the matter of morals and eco
homie privilege, If not in the matter
Of education and worldly knowledge.
Women who dawdle while the
world works are in very real danger
Of losing mems esteem. But the girl
or woman who pulls her own oar
and guards her sense of integrity
Will find that men mean it when