Their Work Shows Housewives Require Executive Ability—And They Have It BY E. K. We have heard how modern gadgets have changed the life of the farm woman. What of the ordinary city housewife of moderate means? How many of these gadgets does she really own, and how much do they change her life? Washers and dryers, vacuum cleaners, mix-masters, these are part of today’s “tools” for housewives, yet most women are without some of these things, and many women have none of them. Suppose, however, that a young mother has ALL the modern gadgets, how much real difference do they make in her daily chores. She saves time, granted. But there are no gadgets to make beds, or clear breakfast, lunch or dinner dishes, There are no new ways to get husbands off to work and children off to school without a hunt for books, ties or rubbers. There are no short cuts to binding up hurt fingers or settling childish disputes, or sitting up nights with teething babies or fevers of older children. Create Understanding This is not intended to belittle the gadgets that have helped women in the home, as other gadgets have helped men and women in office, store or plant. It is an honest en- deavor to create an understanding of the problems of women today. There are no gadgets which will make housework anything but mono- tonous. Every day the same chores— beds to make, dishes to do, floors to sweep and polish, dusting to do, meals to get, children’s washing to be done, ete. A girl with ambition will want to make pretty things for the children, try her hand at re-covering lamp- shades and living room chairs, BUT if she wants to get ordinary work done, these extras must wait till an opportune moment. The other day a professional wo- man made the serious comment that “any woman who does housework, does so because she is too stupid to do anything else.” It would be easy to laugh this off, but how many people believe it? The girl who rises, has her shower, dresses smartly and gets to the office or store at nine, has an hour for lunch, is through at 5 or 5:30, has dinner and then does as she likes in the evening, with even shorter work- ing hours and more freedom during the weekends—does she believe this? Do men believe their women are stupid compared to the girls they meet in offices, stores or plants? Executive Ability This same professional woman will mention two phones going, and someone waiting for an interview. To handle such things she said took executive ability. What of one telephone, one door bell, one squalling baby, one milk pudding burning over, two children due home for lunch . . . trying to remember all the things you’ve read about child guidance, the effect of prolonged crying on young babies, and the fact that your husband likes to see your hair neat and your dress fresh if he should dash home at mid- day. The ordinary housewife who makes an honest attempt to run her home efficiently and to be a good housewife and mother needs more executive ability than the tycoons of industry, Unfortunately the idea has got abroad that “housework” needs no brains, no personality, and that most housewives are loafing on the job. The fact that she has no set hours, no days off, no minimum, in fact usually NO wage which is her own without question, certainly does not tend to raise her status in her own or anyone else’s eyes. Loneliness Apart from the monotony of the work, there is the loneliness. Chil- dren are wonderful, but they are not adult companionship, and the aver- age woman thinks a lot as she does her chores, her thoughts going around like squirrels in a cage till she has exchanged at least some of them with another adult. Suddenly a nurse without training, a cook without ex- perience or equipment, a_book- keeper whose books won't balance. She has a sense of frustration. The remarks, humorous or scathing of her husband over her inadequacies, do nothing to help. In sudden illness, her husband’s “well, DO something. Women are supposed to know about such things,” fills her with terror and sense of terrible impotence. What if the baby should die, the doctor not get there in time. Finances The same with finances. What looked so rosy for two, won’t stretch to three or four. The prized new fur- niture gets shabby and living costs continue to rise. She does her best, but the trying takes its toll, and the bright-faced adored bride of a few years ago is the worried, often impatient, some- times resentful wife and mother of today. Worse than that, the increasing number of young mothers who can- not or will not accept the challenge given them, is adding to our list of alcoholic and mental cases. The answer. Better understanding on the part of the women themselves as to the dignity and importance of their work. Better understanding and helpfulness on the part of their husbands, ce Kind advertisement is not published or displayed WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER Walls Celebrate Silver Wedding Anniversary During the holiday season, Bro. and Mrs. Walls, Kelowna, were “at home” to their friends, in cele- bration of their silver wedding an- niversary. They were married in Holy Cross Church at Creston, B.C., on Janu- ary 2nd, 1937. They have nine children—5 boys and 4 girls—and two grandchildren. The two oldest boys are members of IWA Local 1-357, New Westminster. Maurice, the eldest, is active in the plant and Local Union. Bro. and Mrs. Walls wish to thank their friends and co-workers for their cards, telegrams and pre- sents, expressing the “good wishes” on this eventful occasion. Bosses Take Note As part of a research assign- ment, the Committee of the Asso- ciated Press Managing Editors’ Association prepared a new kind of Ten Commandments dealing with women employees. Here are the Committee’s recommenda- tions: @ Measure a woman by her success with a job, not by her sex or your prejudice. @ Avoid impatience with a woman; she needs to have confi- dence in you. @ What ego is to a man, security is to a woman. Make her feel safe and needed and she will make you feel ten feet tall. @ Never desert a woman in her fear; it is not circumstances a woman fears as much as the prospect of facing them alone. @ Never lose your temper with a woman. Every woman knows that the smaller the pot, the quicker it boils. .@ A woman’s anger can be atomic in power; when there is a blastoff, direct the force to use- ful ends. @ Never forget that a woman never forgets. Her memory, com- pared to a man’s is as cable to a thread. @ As a man, provide the rea- son, the authority, and the secur- ity to guide a woman in the use of her constant emotional drive. @ Praise a woman on every possible occasion. Her apprecia- tion is fourfold that of a man. So is her sensitivity; she requires one-fourth the criticism. @ Treat each woman as an in- dividual in ways suitable to the time, the place—and the woman. IAPA: Accident Prevention YOUR MONEY'S WORTH by Sidney Margolius @ovu1t cut FOOD BILLS, 1F YOU PLAN MEALS AROUND WHAT’S CURRENTLY SEASONAL AND REASONABLE. CHECK STOREADS, THEN PLAN FAMILY MENUS SEVERAL DAYS IN ADVANCE ON THE BASIS OF THE SPECIALS SPECIAL @aacer SIZES, BULK QUANTITIES GENERALLY DO SAvE YOU MONEY. BUT SOME “ECONOMY-SIZE? PACKAGES REALLY COSTS , AS MUCH PER OUNCE AS THE SMALL SIZE! Give YOUR DOLLAR MORE POWER. SUPPORT YOUR OWN UNION LABEL AND ALL UNION. LABEL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES .WHEN SHOPPING FOR WOMEN’S AND GIRLS’ APPAREL LOOK FORTHIS LABEL —> TEES 990 And above all a better apprecia- tion by other women of the fact that these wives and mothers are respon- sible for the well-being and the training of the men and women of tomorrow. More than the fathers, more than schools or churches or social groups —the healthy mind and body of these mothers will determine the health and sanity of our world of today and tomorrow. “We Must Be Free” Better economic conditions will of course help. Freedom from financial ills is a must, freedom of spirit is also essential. A deep belief in “something more than you,” as Kip- ling calls it. Above all, women in city or country must be made to feel “necessary” to their loved ones and to the community, not as household drudges, but as builders, as fine in- struments for the making of finer homes, finer citizens and a finer, free world. And there are no gadgets—ancient or modern to do the trick. by the Liquor Contro! Board 7* mu 4-1121 YU 68-2636 WA 2-7530 LA 2-0343 or by the Government of British Columbia.