Evening star., 1939-07-02
Youth Advised to Take
Job That Looks Good
Miss Robinson Warns Against
Specializing in Too Narrow Field
Due to Rapid Changes
By GRETCHEN SMITH.

not, take it, advises Miss Mary v.
director of public infor-
nation Of the Woman's Bureau of
the Department of Labor.
Advice from Miss Robinson should
be needed, not only because it is
her job to know the situation, from
every angle, where women gain
fully occupied" is concerned, but
also because of her personal ex-
perience.
Today. Miss Robinson quotes
from statistics, about 100000
women are either supporting them
selves or contributing to their sup
port. Through personal inspection
trips, reports to the Labor Depart
ment, literature, periodicals and
newspapers she keeps up-to-the-
minute information on what these
women are doing, conditions under
which they work legislation affect
ing their work and every other point
from which facts concerning work
ing women can be viewed.
Has First hand knowledge.
From personal experience also
Miss Robinson has acquired first
hand knowledge about women's
work and what must be done to
meet with success
-Al my life / wanted to write"
she said. Il particularly wanted to
write plays and was also interested
in acting At Goucher College,
from which 1 graduated, 1 served on
the staff of the year book. As
president of the senior class, had
to do lot of public speaking that
is. before the class. Everything /
learned then has helped me in my
work.
Although I wanted to write"
she continued, my first job was as
teacher in Hampton College for
Women at the University of Rich
mond. l got my first experience
writing with moving picture COM
pany in New York. Then the war
broke out and I went abroad with
the Red Cross as hut directress."
Many months overseas, which, in
cidentally, qualified her to join the
Women's Overseas League, of which
she is an active member gave Miss
Robinson interesting work, but not
the writing Job" she had always
desired. Shortly after her return
from Europe. while making her
home in Washington, she noticed
an announcement of examina tions
TO be held for candidates for the
Woman in Industry Service" which
later became known as the Womans
Bureau.
Work Useful in End.
Field work as a special agent,
which led her into factories and
industrial centers where women
worked, seemed long cry from the
occupation of her desire, writing
But eventually it came, through her
present position.
The work you take in the begin
ming may not be in your line, but
probably will be useful in what you
want in the end" she declares, and
surely her own life has proven that
to be true.
In addition to reading everything
she can find on the subject of women
in work, Miss Robinson writes re-
ports. articles for department bull
letins. and-letters. Hundreds of
letters yearly 60 forth from her desk
in answer to inquiries from a variety
of sources on the Job" situation for
women. Letters from clubwomen,
labor organizations writers, en-
ployers of women and student groups
asking for vocational guidance, al.
come to her desk for replies.
How can I become a police
woman?" high school girl writes.
What salaries do they pay air
plane hostesses and what must 1 do
to qualify?"
These and similar questions come
from the younger group of women
today. she said. And beauty parlor
work is in great demand. according
to the letters she receives.
Figures Refute Claims.
In spite of the masculine wall
that women are taking jobs away
from men, statistics indicate there
are SO 900 900 men gainfully occu-
pied to only II 900 600 women, said
Miss Robinson, who regards as eX-
tremely short-sighted the agitation
against married women obtaining
employment. This agitation has
been particularly acute during the
last year. she added, with 81 States
introducing bills of some sort favor
ing legislation against married
women in industry.
In addition to writing for depart
ment bulletins. press releases and
letters of inquiries. Miss Robinson
has also done considerable writing
for radio.
Miss Robinson includes in her ad-
vice to young people a warning
against specializing in too narrow
a field, because times change so
rapidly.
Il also tell them" she added. no
matter what their work, they should
do it to the best of their ability
Some day, when the chance comes
to apply for the job they really
want. they will have to have recon-
mendations from their former en-
ployers."
She also advises exactness in the
little things" Even the worker
with wonderful ability must observe
rules and regulations. she declared.
Miss Robinson, who has recently
been appointed chairman of the
Committee on Economic and Legal
Status of Women of the American
Association of University Women,
is a member of the Voteless District
of Columbia League of Women
Voters, the Business and Profess
sional Women's Club and the
American Association of Social
Workers. She is also q member
of the Social Workers Publicity
Council and of the National Wom-
ans Trade Union League.