The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-05-08
Observations
Plans Under Way
TO Raise Status
of Women
BY Helen Essay

asked what WOmens organizations
were doing TO improve the oppor-
tunity for women in the postwar
world. Did women, especially or
ganiZed women, actually want &c
hold the quick progress they had
made since the war had dressed
millions Of them in uniforms and
factory Stacks and given them a new
chance at rearranging the world
man has so messed up?
II women did want 10 rearrange
the world then what leadership
were they finding in the momentarl-
ly silenCed women's organizations
when can we see you TO tell
you what our organization is do
ing The telephone rang hercely
the day these questions jumped
into print
The National Womans party by
way of soft feminine voice asked
me in for tea and a talk that very
afternoon. The Alva Belmont
house across the way from the
Capitol, and headquarters OF the
National Woman's party had a well
coming open fire in its big draw
ing room when | lodged through "A
spring thundershower into its
stately halls.
Miss Alice Paul. chairman OF tho
National Women's party, led me
10 a comfortable. Chintz-coyered
chair and said: We've urged you
TO come because We want your help
in getting the equal rights amend
ment to the Constitution passed
1T the amendment is passed the
opportunity TO have women reach
a fair and dignifed place in the
good world for which this country
Is fighting. will be assured All
that the amendment asks is equal
rights under the law. When wom-
on have that. their security and
Advancement will follow. naturally.
"All We want is the RIGHT OF
women, as well as men. TO take part
in the job OF running the world.
IT, for example" she continued. "a
married woman wants TO work or
hold property or conduct a bust
ness IN her own name she should
be permitted TO do these things"
The laws OF some states still
say she cannot. We do not insist
in the constitutional amendment
We are demanding that she MUST
do these things Merely that she
have the RIGHT TO do them.
Il do believe now. that when the
amendment we've urged II in
every Congress since 1929 shortly
comes 10 debate on the floor OF the
United States Senate. We shall 1nd
that we've at least won our fght.-
But when this war is finally
ended" ! suggested and the men
come back, women may want 70
give up their substitute jobs and
z completely back into the home.
They may be fed up with too much
independence and the responsible
~ independence unfortunately
brings" l suggested.
This may happen" replied Miss
Paul. Even so. 1t is surely fair
that the law should permit women
10 decide what they want to do
in the economic and social world"
As rode from the Woman's par
~ headquarters to Georgetown for
a talk with Mrs. Jouett Sheuse,
chairman OF the board OF directors
OF the Institute OF Womens Pro-
fessional Relations, remembered
reading somewhere that during the
Civil War, women had taken the
place OF men on the farms and IN
the factories. Yet when the war
was over'they had moved back into
Victorian complacency and domes-
ITCHY Would women's recent sud
den plunge into the working world
subside again as it had before7
Mrs Shouse and I argued the
question pleasantly over my after
Moons second cup OF tea. Mrs.
Shouse's organization does not IN
dorse the Equal Rights Amend
ment, but like Mrs. Roosevelt, it
does not fght against It.
I cannot believe women will give
up the great chance they have
now" Mrs. Shouse said. Moreover.
they won't be allowed 10 give up
their jobs There will be too
many vacancies TO fill. What We
need to do now is to educate the
colleges TO train. women for the
positions that will desperately call
for them. It will be the women's
own fault II they do not play big
role in the postwar world and get
representatives. at the peace Ia
BILE"