THE LOT OF WOMEN
I find it difficult at times to realize that so much of what women have gained in the way of freedom and equality with men, has come about in my time - not centuries ago, but in relatively recent years.
John Stuart Mill wrote about the subjugation of women in a book published under that title, The American Edition, here in the United States in 1869. He wrote it in l861, I find, but we were far too busy with our internal affairs to give such a subject much time or attention.
Certainly the harsh trials and and tribulations of those years of such internecine strife caused many people – men and women - to change their views as to what the proper place of women might be in our society – in both the North and the South.
It was not that women were idol by any means. John Stuart Mill stated the situation's 'special bent when he wrote: “Are a woman's occupations, especially her chosen and voluntary ones, are ever regarded as excusing her from any of what are termed the calls of society?”
It must have been a question common to his time. Should women be engaged in any occupation other than the heaven-bestowed ones of being wife and mother and general caretaker of all that was good, natural, wholesome and necessary for the family? The term he used was “:the calls of society” and certainly, the “cause” became more and more apparent to men and women during the Civil War years and the long passage through Reconstruction travails True women had enough to do with what they were destined to care for. Should she engage in other work, as well? The truth of the matter was that they did other work, but were not credited with doing so. In most families it was common knowledge that the women did work which was “a man's job”.That became much more common during the war years. They did it without complaining and they did much of it very well. In some families you could see changes taking place, and not always in a subtle manner, either, which changed much of “man's work” into something which was done very well by women of the family. Milking, chopping and bringing-in wood, being the family doctor, nurse and char woman.
John Stuart Mill observed, furthermore: “She must always be at the beck and call of somebody, generally everybody” She was never to be considered to be in a free-agent classification at all, and was “on call” day or night; winter, summer spring or fall. One wonders today how she survived; how she every got anything done with so many to boss her!
Then, to bring this passage from John Stuart Mill to a climax, see this:
“If, “ he wrote, “she has a study or a pursuit, she must snatch any sort of intervals which accidentally occurs to be employed in it ... truly everything a woman does is done at odd times!”
I find that to be so accurate even today as I watch women at work. Those things which they really want and need to do for their “career” have to be done in those fragments of time allowed between their their “:home” work. When I make myself to be aware of women working in modern times, I am forced to remember how much women have done for me in the past eighty-seven years working in those precious moments they find so well.
Thank you, ladies.
A.L.M. March 5, 2003 [c595wds]
