Evening star., 1951-03-22
Letters to The Star
Penanaes may carry ,Driters correct names
and addresses AL letters subject to condensation.
Purt-Time Womunpower

r0Tt- Ime W0monpoWer
Today is the time when everyone
should work in the cause of freedom
and democracy, and almost everyone
wants to- The newspapers are full Of
reports about the mobilization of in
dustry and labor. as well as bitter argu-
ments concerning the size and compost
ton of our Army. Yet in the midst Of
this burst of awareness and activity.
sit unemployed. would like to present
my problem as one that confronts and
illustrates whole segment of our
population.
From the census figures, I see that
I am almost the average American. I
am woman, 80 years old, married, and
living with two other people, my husband
and my 3h-year-old daughter [The
average American Q950) is female, 30h
years old, married. and living with "a
other people.] I am sure the census
also lists me as housewife, which am.
And want to be housewife. I make
home for my busy husband who does
his job from $3.50 am. until 6 pm. I
take care of my daughter. who needs
me at home every afternoon after
wants me to be q housewife and care
for my family.
But from $3.50 am. until pm. have
nobody to care for. I can sweep and
clean, drink coffee with my neighbors,
shop for bargains sew a blouse. I can
sit and read a book or just go to bed
and take a nap. But these activities
hardly jibe with a program of national
mobilization.
I am also one of the many American
women who was given good education.
In line with American tradition, worked
until was married. Not only was I
competent, but enjoyed working. Now
I would like to work again and do
my part.
But as look for a job, and as my
many friends in the same predicament
look for jobs, we are told: Yes, we
need you-for full-time employment" :"
We reply: But we must be at home
some of the time. What we want is a
half-time job Then the employer takes
the position, more or less sympathetic
cally, that we are useless if we won't
work full time
From the employers point of view,
1t is, of course, more convenient to deal
with full-time employees. I might note,
however, that all of us are being asked
to compromise in the name of national
emergency. But more pertinent, would
like to suggest what seems to me a
feasible solution to the problem. 1t
is this:
Why can't two women hold one job?
The details could vary; that is, each
could work half day, each could work
every other day, etc. The two women
would be responsible for keeping each
other current. which might entail little
overlapping time. This system has been
made to work in cooperative colleges,
such as the University of Cincinnati.
There students attend classes seven
weeks, then work seven weeks, two stu
dents alternating in holding one job.
Such a plan has become so mutually
profitable that companies like Boeing
gladly employ "co-ops"
To employ women on a two-to-one,
half-time basis would require careful
planning and coordination, but the
benefits of such program would out
weigh all disadvantages. I believe that
women, starved for a middle road be-
tween more work thanga housewife and
mother should do, and no work other
than charity drives and benefit teas,
would work overtime and harder than
the average employe. know that I
personally would be grateful for the
opportunity to serve.
&. J. B.