Practical Suggestions for Mother and HousewifeMiller, Marion Mills
Philosophy
Practical Suggestions for Mother and Housewife
Miller, Marion Mills
Home economics
In a similar fashion the unmarried woman should act toward her neighbors
who are wives and mothers. In matters where the interests of children
and households are of chief concern she should resign the leadership to
the married women, and, after them, to the professional teachers.
Religious, social, and civic matters, wherein as a church member and a
citizen she is on an equal footing with wives and teachers, afford her
ample scope for exercising her instinct for leadership.
Every unmarried woman who lives alone should, whether or not she possess
an income, have a vocation. Earnings and wages are not alone good in
themselves, but are an additional gratification, in that they supply a
proof that the earner's service is of worth to the world. Some day, when
social conditions are so adjusted that economic competition is really
free, and wealth cannot be obtained save by service, money will be a
proper measure of standing in the community. It is all the more a duty
now, both to herself, her class, and to society, that the woman who
works should contend to the last cent for her part of the wealth that is
created by the business in which she is engaged. Where her work is equal
to a man's, she should contend for wages equal to his; where it is
inferior, she should be willing to accept less; where superior, she
should demand more. In these matters women are apt to be either too
complaisant or too clamorous. They should first be sure that they are
justified in their claims, and then, if right, be firm in their demands,
and, if wrong, be resigned to abandon them. The law of supply and demand
acting in the labor market allots wages between workers with natural
justice--certainly more equitably than the interested opinion either
of employer or employee.
It will be seen that the woman in business needs to study the
fundamental elements of political economy even more than the housewife.
Books and magazines are filled with superficial, obvious advice as to
the way in which women as employees should conduct themselves toward
their employers and fellow workers, but rarely is there a hint given
of the actual rights and obligations of these relations, upon which
the proper conduct is based.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account