The position of woman: actual and ideal / with preface by Sir Oliver Lodge.

Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The position of woman: actual and ideal / with preface by Sir Oliver Lodge. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    179/192 (page 163)
    men’s trades unions, are likely to arise in the fu- ture. We have have had a recent illustration of this in connexion with the Edinburgh printing trade. As regards middle-class women, I have pointed out that many of them are at any rate partially endowed by parental allowances or be- quests. It is of great importance that these en- dowments should not be allowed, by protected competition, to lower the remuneration, either of women who have not the same supplementary resources, or of men who have to support a family as well as to maintain themselves. Women should, as far as possible, be encouraged to devote them- selves to those occupations in which their special qualities will give them a virtual monopoly of employment. They should be discouraged from occupations in which they have to carry on a harassing and unequal competition with men. But the supreme interests of the community lie in precautions that women shall not be tempted or coerced into occupations which may hinder or unfit them for the proper discharge of their maternal functions. A good deal has been done in this direction by the Factory Acts, but more remains to be accomplished. There is the evil of sweating still to be grappled with. No doubt it is not confined to women’s industries, but it is most prejudicial to women, and they are less able to protect themselves. And women should be spared from exhausting labour during child- bearing, and they should be free to devote them- M2