The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1946-01-03
Observations
Place of Women
Following War
Big Question
Ry HELEN EssARY

A most apprehensive moment,
bouing in OF 1876 with clean, uu-
touched days ahead ready 70 be
used for honest thinking and hon
CRADLE deeds.
So many and so potent are the
possibilities p the year facing
MS that it friEhteus me- even TO
consider what might happen 70 you
and me and the rest OF the crazy
world
However. I am tempted 10 won
der out loud about one OF the mil
lion unsolyed problems Of 1916.
To Wit, what will be the status
OF women in the first year OF that
which was meant to be postwar
millennium?
Some cynics say that women
have not advanced their place in
the world one iota by their war
time behavior. other more vine
gary critics go still further in their
criticism OF women and what they
did and did not do. during the war,
and state quite clearly that instead
OF taking the superb opportunity
the war offered to prove them
selves first-rate human beings and
entitled 10 both respect and admira-
ton. they have set their cause back
a 100. 500 years. Perhaps a 1000
years.
Indeed, have heard some par
ticularly disillusioned members OF
both sexes protest lie manner in
which some women conducted
themselves overseas.
Undoubtedly men. the great fght-
ing creatures, all but put the world
in the Stone Age by their heroic
World War II.
But was this a reason for wom-
en- trailing along back 10 the Stone
Age. too? Did they have 10 agree
meekly TO what most OF them
thought unnecessary slaughter and
wrecking Of standards OF decency?
Few women, according 10 what
you have seen and heard at home
and what you have heard reported
from abroad. had the courage TO
stand up for what they believed
was right and fair.
We have done little, minor jobs
here and there. But what par
ticularly fine constructive work did
we accomplish? Some OF the wom-
en- in uniform let themselves be
pushed around, used for minor
tasks. or for simple decoration.
Like a new kind OF service ribbon.
L.
that And what are the women
going TO do about the half-made
peace? Are we again going 10
show ourselves imitators OF men?
II men decree there must be an
other war soon, are women going
70 Join the ballyhoo? Do some
women actually like war because II
gives them new kinds OF excite
ment?
Perhaps some women enjoy war.
But what Of the mothers and the
children and the wives OF the men
who were killed or hopelessly In
tured? The German women and
the japanese women must have
bitter thoughts. Will they permit
another war? Why can't women
stop a war II they really want to
stop It?
Men have made a terrible mess
OF civilization" we are saying this
sing.song. "Give women a chance"
Very well, here is your chance in
1876. Take a good stout hand in
the reconstruction OF the world
Don't sit back and say, But men
don't like the kind OF women who
have ideas"
That is utter nonsense. The real
charmers OF history had ideas.
And used them, too. The principal
reason women do not use their
ideas, mostly half formed, Is be-
cause II Is real work TO use ideas.
Especially II you are a woman.
This much is certain-if women
do not use their ideas and live up
to their ideas by the end OF this
New Year. II they do not Justify
their existence by other than the
old sex route, they will be back in
the kitchen and the boudoir And
that. my dear, is where we will
have shown the world we truly be-
long.
Thus ends my New Years
treatise. Think II over II Is not
a lot OF words. II is facts!
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