Evening star., 1945-03-23
Plans 10 Improve
Role 81 Women 5ef
in Motion al ParIey

Broad plans for increasing the
effectiveness and well being 4oi
women as citizens Of q democracy
as wives and mothers and as work.
ers" were set In motion today after
three days Of conferences among
specialists and representatives Of
various fields meeting here under
auspices Of the Women's Commits
sion Of the Federal Security
Agency's National Committee on
Physical Fitness.
At a press conference last night
at the close Of the conferences at
the Social Security Building,
Laurentine B. Collins, the chairman,
who is director of school community
relations in the Detroit public
schools, announced general con-
clusions.
The commission agreed, she said,
that physical fitness depends not
only on adequate nutrition, medical
care, rest, recreation and exercise
for women, but on all-around per-
sonal adjustment.
Specialists at Meeting.
A formal announcement added
that the conferees realized women
have unique functions and that this
necessitates better understanding
not only of the differences between
the sexes, but also the wide varia-
tions which exist among individual
women and girls as we'll"
This implies further study of pro-
grams suitable to women, with rec
ognition, for example, that programs
for girls cannot be mere limitations
of those for boys"
The delegates felt that physical
fitness cannot be imposed, but must
start with the present interests
values, prejudices and goals OF the
girls and women to whom the pro-
grams are offered. 1t also was rec
commended by all groups that girls
and women should sit in on the
planning"
The conferences were attended by
specialists in the fields of education
hygiene and psychiatry and repre-
sentatives from industry, labor, pub
lie health, Government agencies and
lay organizations.
The Women's Commission" il
was said. recognized that physical
fitness for women cannot be fully
attained unless begun in the pre-
natal period and continues through
out the life span.n
Further Study Urged.
Responsibility for achieving this
end rests, in the opinion of the
commission, mot with any group or
profession, but is the joint response
bility of every one-the home, the
school, the church. the club, the
community, local, State and Fed
eral governments. management and
labor, lay and professional organiza-
tions and especially youth itself"
The subcommittee on lay groups
recommended that further study be
directed toward discovery what
women should want, what they want
and what they will take"
A health examination and health
counseling used to direct a girl to
the physical activity she selects were
suggested by the subcommittee on
youth organizations.
The school and college subcom-
recognizing that the profes-
sion Of physicai education siS" ex.
panding,a with many new aspects
urged "a vigorous and selective re-
crnitment program to meet present
and anticipated needs for person
nel." s.
Information Gained.
The Importance of satisfactory
working conditions for women who
work outside their homes wa.
stressed by the business and in.
dustry subcommittee. These con-
siderations, 1t was pointed out, in.
clude not only hours, wages ane
physical conditions at work, but
safety, health, nutrition and chile
labor safeguards. -....-.-. ...........
The Women's Commission recog-
nized that a great deal of valuable
information about women's capabili.
ties and needs has accumulated dur.
ing the warm the armed forces
in industrial plants, for example
and recommends that ways be founC
to make this information available
to programs for girls and women.
The commission indorsed the plar
of living war memorials being pro-
NOTED by the National Committee
on Physical Fitness and urged that
in planning these opportunities COM
parable facilities for girls be includ-
ed. 80 that all youth will be served.