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11/6/1963 - Women’s Place in a Changing World by Mildred K. Marcy

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS MM I Tokyo Japan Women Place Changing World November Mr Richard H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs Madison Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Nolte When God created Eve companion Adam could He known That Christian Eves country called United States Amerlca subject report American Women transmitted President John F Kennedy Presidential Commission Status Women That Women Minors Bureau Ministry Labor Japan would issued revision report The Status Women Japan similar ministries other countries planet engaged dating information women their homes communities educa girls women women industry business professions sciences legal rights women women public itics women their voluntary organizations women citizens That United Nations given rather newly formed agglomeration called autonomous pendent groups people would establish Commission Status Women which annually seventeen sessions examine progress women nations becomlng fully participating members their societies That UN Status Women Commission would several regional seminars published materials Participation Women Public Life Women Family Law Education Girls Women That Interamerican Commission Women Organi zation American States would similar concerns longer period That Agency International Development United States would regional meetings Pacific Latin America The Role Women Rural Development The Role Women Urban Development That pamhplet Women Educational Exchange Developing Countries would published Committee Educational Interchange Policy Institute International Education That University California January would institute The Role Potential Woman That Betty Frieden The Feminine Mystique would close being seller United States I these attention getting samp3_es surface manifestations profound change human relationships which taking place degree countries world This change status women which another saying value placed women their societies actual potential implica tions future course world events During living countries I better understanding evolving vastly gmented which women around world playing contrasted limited short years And increased understanding superficial though neces sarily sounder judgment potential impli cations these changes economic social political structure developments those countries public attitudes national policy decisions The American woman often described though belonged pecies Both domestic foreign observers among world women uniquely characterize Admirers critics agree identified readily anywhere distinctive combination certain qualities looking youthful energetic industrious efficient capable independent restless confused frustrated spoiled domineering shallow frivolous lucky hatever truth image America woman vulnerable cataloguing other women because vanguard changes human ideas institutions which profound women vhere world being shake stirred American women simply conspicuous histoz process which their similarities other millions csught actually important their differences The right determination dignity individual essential equality human beings these slogans theories modern world matters passionate conviction The existence dozens nations obvious evidence power these ideas increasingly almost every relationship All hierarchies challenged humanistic ideas modern science technology offer means making those ideas reality Women bound respond dynamic current bound fresh roles which history tradition biology assigned Certain underlying attitudes values shown enduring strength shaping American woman feelings about herself But seemingly rigid beliefs about women should yielded since beginning overwhelming reality rapidly changing facts Such pragmatism characterized American experience society tested ideals changing circumstances settling develop continent But experience women especially striking The women first ventured American wilderness early Century years making habitable clear expected It perhaps human there still ample evidence durability parts world Both principle practice seemed plain women wholly subordinate actually inferior respects marriage motherhood their destiny proper function Rights privileges masculine concerns The survival challenged first facts existence which sharply conflict In United States where first there vlously productive respect every early became American tradi which despite conventional ideas propriety encouraged women their hands brains kinds At country enriched floods grants coming create lives opportunity Women expected opportunity reality In their faith would better their parents their children fully helped motion vital current aspiration American Yet United States where women total citizenry anywhere world contrast situation respect three important factors dUCtipn 9n_omi9 righs p_olitiqa rights In education college level largely restricted Public elementary school education girls become general century vious decades establishment female acade higher education women first woman admitted medical school But exceptional young woman avail herself college graduate school education certain types training considered proper could teacher nurse domestic serviceo But woman engineering architecture medicine science Virtually unheard However years number women enrolled leges changed dramatically Women third B A third M A tenth Ph D There practically profession closed woman trained capable With regard economic rights right money decide woman brave enough money traditional proper occupa tions legally belonged father husband brother Now women third women working holders thlrd total labor force United States The striking difference women combining responsibilities their family those which augment family incomes More women working married And legal restrictions regard owning isposing earnings property largely eliminated And field political rights women United States national elections office since Amendment Consti tulon finally ratified thirds states As history written years flick eyelash Most forgotten passion violence conviction expended suffrage years prior United States And really amounted affirmation deepest beliefs American system essential equality opportunity human beings It lives women profound economic social cultural changes focus Many other changes taken place United States since requiring adjustments lives Americans particularly women With regard health ctancy increased average thiryrs would Due revolutionary advances medicine science better while alive Thus revolution health available women equivalent their predecessors terms virtually second adult lifetime after their child rearing years which dedicated develop talents skills service family munity broadest sense community We become urban society rather rural A hundred years morean nation labor force engaged agriculture today proportion percent still produce agricultural surpluses As people moved farms cities production traditionally carried individually women moved factory placed production basis evidenced three manufacturing industries eploying largest number workers United States textiles related products apparel What weaving sewing processing skills which homemaker generations possess Urbanization reduced demands women demands community Industrialization The length workday length thebrkeek Changed sunup sundown These reductions industrial hours special importance employed women carry double responsibility inside outside Changes hours patterns labor saving devices given Americans greater segments leisure which choose freely occupy themselves Partnership Homes The process democratization directly etered tending convert archical structure oritative submissive dutiful children clearly defined position partnership cooperative group whose members share authority responsibility nearly similar terms This change reflected family decisions traditionally regarded prerogative family acceptance individual interests separate members family group This tended broadened responsibilities mother shared responsibility parents What I written belabored unneces sarily obvious point nation world grows changes women world What I trying describe American universal revolution human relationships which ranks among important events century These incredible changes United States astronaut astronette USSR takeo place during years That extraordinary change opportunities education economic rights political rights economic development industrialization urbanization medical scientific advances taking place parts world Americans fifty years which adapt reasonably gradual change It understand enormity problems facing great majority today people radically changing their fifty years fifteen There thing women interests limited sense A woman attitudes interests activities individual abilities capacities depend large degree cultural environment which reared Yet despite striking superficial differences clothing houses speech despite deeper ferences religious faith cultural experience family relationships attitudes toward political beliefs women world around share certain universal concerns They minimum being children families education medical preservation concern people their institutions political social process These universal unifyin divisive nations world struggle toward peaceful world As women interests cannot narrowly defined neither opinion there election phenomenon women enfranchisement women future historians affect sions world nations Of nations members United Nations women equal political rights seven countries women partial rights eight countries politicalrights illus trate speed which women acquired right participat public policy deoisions their nations since United Nations Charter adopted eighteen years V aveWomen Will women assume rapidly enough manifold responsibilities accompany these rights Or through indulgence human failings apathy ignorance women fullest contribution which capable forging maintaining social economic political institutions their countries which hopefully harmonious peoples world conceive basic values human exist I learn answers which being given question Sincerely Mildred Marcy For substantiation statistical proof trends hereby acknowledged preparatory materials final report President Kennedy Commission Status Women Malissa Redfield writing February issue A1 Hayat Fi America published United States Informaoh A Received New York November