Terrace Bay Public Library Digital Collections

Terrace Bay News, 30 May 1968, p. 18

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TERRACE BAY NEWS MAY_30, 1968 SUGAR AND_ SPICE by Bill Smiley A dirty word One of the dirtiest words in into the world as a woman, THE English language is something she hasn't had time "housewife." How would you to think about for 20 years. feel if the census-taker or the And it.s all so unnecessary. election pollsters dropped 'Why should an_ intelligent around, asked your occupation, woman, who has something to and you had to reply with that contribute to society, be shack- demeaning, degrading epithet? led to a house and family for The very. word suggests two decades, doing work she her 't seamawaite" * JOHN R. SLOAN From Thu. 6 , WITH LOVE" LUZY KENDALL THE "MINDBENDERS available: 3 é PA g = = 7 2 8 : 2 > 5 one wieaoee ULE We pledge to present the best entertainment 5 z S 3 3 $ & 4 = a nr 3 = Ss Wed. 5 students 1°° JUDY GEESON ~ CHRISTIAN ROBERTS - 5 some kind of sub-woman mar- | ried to a house. And, as a-lot of women will tell you, that's about the size of it. Once a woman was proud of the title. It meant Woman of the House (or Mistress of the House if you weren't married). It gave her a status. She was respected by her family, her neighbors, and, most impor- tant, herself. Today it has many connota- tions, most of them uncompli- mentary. It means drudge, dope, sucker, parasite; it means nagging, futility, rest- lessness, exlessness, depend- ing on who is calling the hot. Take a look at your average housewife on a TV commercial. She is portrayed as being so dumb it makes you wince, as she raves over some cruddy soap or new instant coffee. And in the TV family series shows, she's even more sicken- ing. All sweetness and light, with the knowing look, the coy smile, and just the right word at the right time, to solve the family crisis. She is shown as a materialistic manipulator of her half-witted husband. Real housewives aren't like this -at all. Within practically every one of them lies a caged tigress, flaming passion, an artistic soul, bludgeoned to near-death by dishes and drudgery and husbands who love their cars more than her, and kids who treat her like a door-mat. After 20 years of being mauled by family and house, the "housewife" realizes she's been had. But it's usually too late. She is physically pooped, mentally rusty, 30 pounds ov- erweight and realizes with a deep shock that she may have 100 skills in the house, but not one that is being sought in the want ads. This r ude awakening can lead to all sorts of things: the gin bottle; the tranquillizer; growing obesity; and in some cases, a revolution that cuts all her adhesions and puts her hates, when it could be done as well or better by someone who enjoys it? There are thousands of young women in this country who have no pretensiojs, or even interest, in intellectual or business careers. Yet they have all the things thousands of housewives and mothers don't: placid temperaments; a pleas- ure in simple tasks, well done; a good way with children; warm hands and kind hearts. Why aren't they looking af- ter homes and children, while women who have an urge to create and compete.and do things are released to have a whack at them? It's because "domestic help" has a certain social stigma at- tached to it. It needn.t have. We don't need or want "slav- eys" any more. But we do need young women who could be trained as housekeepers, placed in jobs, and given de- cent wages. They could be trained as rig- idly as nurses, but wouldn't need the educational stand- ards, nor the length of time to qualify. White smocks and shoes, a professional organiza- tion, good training and wages, and many a girl who is sweat- ing in a factory would leap at the job. And there'd be no shortage of jobs. Objections? The kids would miss mother love, you say. Bal- oney. More kids are ruied by neurotic, frustrated mothers than ever would be by a kind, judicious girl who came in ev- ery day. The family closeness would be broken? Nonsense. Families are so close now t hat they're smothering each other. Finally, the payment of such a new vocation should be tax deductible for women who want to, or have to work. If I were ten years younger, I'd organize a training school and placement service, call them "The Girls in White" and make a fortune. oe pag RA & Ea 34 Tue. 4 ip enough to make them cool it and call him "Sir ADULT ENTERTAINMENT who was strong and hi children 50° ae, iret A story of the new-beat bold-tempo mods and minis...and a teac continues as JUNE fond adults 17° TERRACE BAY @ Two Shows Nightly... ADMISSION - .50¢ for adults, students and children PINOCCHIO INOUTER SPACE IER ADULT ENTERTAINMENT : g 2 SATURDAY MATINEE | 2P.M... SIDNEY POIT COLUMBIA PICTURES Presents <= fs a a JAMES CLAVELL'S PRODUCTION OF

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