our material from the most
authoritative quarters, irrespective of the personal views of those who
have supplied it. All the writers have given generously of their time and
labour in order that they might contribute to an investigation of
profound social and national importance--the clear presentation of the
economic position of women as it appears to women themselves.
Widely different as are the professional interests and divergent the
opinions of the writers of these essays, no one can, as we think, read
consecutively the various sections of the book without arriving at the
conclusion that, on certain fundamental questions, there is substantial
agreement among them. Almost all, as a result of their professional
experience, definitely express the conviction that women need
economic independence and political emancipation: nowhere is there
any hint of opposition to either of these ideals. The writers are
unanimous in their insistence upon the importance--to men as well as to
women--of equal pay for equal work, irrespective of sex. Wherever the
subject of the employment of married women is mentioned--and it
crops up in most of the papers--there is adverse comment on the
economically unsound, unjust, and racially dangerous tendency in
many salaried professions to enforce upon women resignation on
marriage. It is clear that professional women are beginning to show
resentment at the attempt to force celibacy upon them: they feel
themselves insulted and wronged as human beings when, being
physically and mentally fit, they are not permitted to judge for
themselves in this matter. Apart from their righteous indignation, it
may be suggested that, even from the ratepayers' point of view, the
normal disabilities of motherhood, with the consequent leave of
absence, would probably in the long run be less expensive than the
dismissal, at the zenith of their powers, of experienced workers, who
have to be replaced by younger and less efficient women. It is,
moreover, a truism that the best work is produced by the most
contented worker. A fundamentally happy woman, continually
strengthened and refreshed by affectionate companionship, is obviously
better able to endure the strain of professional work than her unmarried
sister, who at best, is deprived of the normal joys of fully--developed
womanhood. The action of Central and Local Authorities and of other
employers who make marriage a disability for their women employèes,
is alluded to by our contributors with an indignation, the more striking
for the studied calm with which it is expressed.[2]
The future as foreshadowed in these papers seems to us bright with
hope. In spite of difficulties, opposition, rebuffs, and prejudice,
professional women workers are slowly but surely advancing in status
and in recognition. They are gaining courage to train themselves to
claim positions of responsibility and command, and to refuse, if
occasion arises, to be subordinated, on the ground of their womanhood,
to men less able than themselves. They are learning by
experience,--many have already learned,--the need for co-operation and
loyalty to one another. While they are thus gaining new and valuable
qualities, they have never lost, in spite of many hardships, the peculiar
joy and lofty idealism in work which are, in part, a reaction from ages
of economic and personal dependence.
[Footnote 1: For an analysis of the whole scheme of work of the Fabian
Women's Group, see Appendix I.]
[Footnote 2: In Western Australia the following Amendment, 340A., to
the Criminal Code has passed the third reading in the Legislative
Assembly, and is expected to pass the Legislative Council before this
book appears:--
(1) Any person, who, either as principal or agent--_(a)_ Makes or
enters into or enforces or seeks to enforce any rule, order, regulation,
contract, agreement or arrangement in restraint of or with intent to
restrain, prevent or hinder the marriage of _any person (N.B._ A
woman is a "person" in Western Australia) who is in his employment
or in the employment of his principal, and is of the age of twenty-one
years or upwards; or
_(b)_ Dismisses or threatens to dismiss any person from his
employment or the employment of his principal, or alters or threatens
to alter, any such person's position to the prejudice of such person by
reason of the fact that such person has married or intends to marry, or
with a view to restrain, prevent, or hinder such person from getting
married;
is guilty of an offence, and is liable to imprisonment for three months,
or to a fine not exceeding five hundred pounds.
(2) The provisions of this section shall apply to corporations so far as
they are capable of being applied.]
WOMEN WORKERS IN SEVEN PROFESSIONS
SECTION I
THE TEACHING PROFESSION
"All stood thus far Upon equal ground: that we were brothers all In
honour, as in one community."
I
INTRODUCTION
Until recently, girls who desired to earn their livelihood drifted
naturally into teaching, which
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