Solving the Problem</ Whether
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IN these days of quick and easy—
and numerous —divorces, it is al
ways easy to start an argument
about marriage. And one of the
most debated questions pertaining to
matrimony is, “Shall a woman work
after marriage?”
There are a number of reasons why
a girl may feel that it is necessary for
her to continue her work. One is that
girls in college do not train primarily
for homemaking but are educated for
professions and other occupations, just
as are men students.
Another reason is plain economic
necessity. Many young people have
had to shoulder financial obligations and
responsibilities in their own families
during the last few years. Often, young
women will not let the men they intend
to marry remove these burdens from
them.
Often, the men have similar obliga
tions of their own, and the sensible
solution may be the one whereunder the
couple marries and each assumes his or
her own burden rather than delay the
wedding date.
Dr. Helen Judy-Bond, professor at
Teachers College, Columbia University,
who instructs in home management and
family social relations, points out that
the world would have lost some of its
greatest benefits had married women
been deprived of the opportunity of
carrying on in a profession.
One needs only to think of the value
of Madam Curie’s contribution to hu
manity to be convinced of this.
Dr. Judy-Bond maintains that the
question of whether a wife should work
cannot be solved by society, or industry,
or by the sages who write and talk
verbosely on the subject. »
“No, a thousand times no. The de
PIC
cision must be made by the two people
concerned, for only they know the many
intimate problems that must be brought
into the picture.”
But —if the wife is going to continue
to work after marriage, Dr. Judy-Bond
believes there should be complete un
derstanding and co-operation about
homemaking.
“Otherwise, in addition to the finan
cial contribution she is making, the
young wife may find herself bearing
the burden of the home’s work. Un
less the couple buys all its help, there
must be a division of tasks.”
T\R. JUDY-BOND, one of the most
eminent members of her profession,
insists on equality of sharing, first of
all. When it comes to budgeting she
believes that it is impossible to put
down many rules. Much depends on
the scale of living and the personal
needs of the two individuals.
“How much money a couple should
have before they marry must be de
termined by their plan of living and
their occupation,” she explains. “If a
man is a day laborer his scale differs
from that of a man preparing to be a
college instructor. It always is wise to
have a reserve fund for emergencies,
and to put aside so much each week,
but this matter must be worked out.
“I believe that two young people
should have an understanding about the
manner in which their life together and
their finances are to be handled, and
should forget about commandments. If
they lay down rules they are likely to
feel that they have failed, if an illness
or unexpected guests cause the budget
to be upset one week.
“Rent, however, should not exceed 20
or 25 per cent of the monthly income.
It may be easier 10 estimate by saying
that it should not be more than one
week’s salary.
“Home ownership must be determined
by the future plans of the man and girl.
If they expect to reside permanently in
their community it might be well to
own a home. If they intend to move—
a young college instructor may be given
a position in another school —then the
ownership of a home could handicap
them.”
Girls who have had work in heme
economics courses, Dr. Judy-Bond be
lieves, are better able to cope with do
mestic problems than are those who
open a cook book and get out the meas
uring plans and spoons.
Girls approach marriage in a wiser,
more understanding way today, she be
lieves, than when their mothers were
entering on this venture. They are do
ing an excellent job, too.
“They have an opportunity of choos
ing their husbands, whereas their
mothers were more limited, not having
careers of their own to pursue, as a
rule, if they didn’t marry. They did not
come in contact with many men, either.”
r rHE matter of saving, while impor-
A tant, should not dwarf other values.
Dr. Judy-Bond asserts.
“The newly married couple should not
save so much on a small income that
they sacrifice food values and other
necessities. Saving can be exaggerated.
The bride should not work after mar
riage if it is going to produce a serious
conflict with her husband, but as a rule
it will not. He will be grateful for the
extra financial aid, unless he is able to
take care of the household comfortably.”
Courses on food and home man
agement for boys are increasing rapidly
In many schools they have been intro
duced at the request of the boys.
The courses on marriage and the
family life are crowded at Columbia
University. In fact, the number of stu
dents enrolling for this work has in
creased 75 per cent in the last two
years.
“Young people are realizing that they
must understand the psychological,
physiological, and sociological basis of
the family. They must know how the
group should function if it would serve
society and the individual to the best of
its ability, how to make adjustments,
face problems, as well as what the
various organized groups are doing to
render help to them. Today an increas
ing amount of time is being given to the
study of the constructive side of family
life while very little is devoted to the
remedial problems. The positive attitude
should be adopted.”
There is a pronounced tendency, too,
Dr. Judy-Bond relates, on the part of
young people to discuss the intimate
problems of marriage.
The nutrition department of Teachers
College, which works closely with the
home-making group, has expressed in
terest in the reports from high schools
as to the number of boys who want to
know how to cook.
The old fear that girls were taking to
typewriters instead of stoves has been
dispelled by the enrollment in these
courses, and now that the boys are tak
ing an interest, there is no reason why
any family should not be well-fed.
“I think that it is of primary impor
tance in married life that every woman
know how to cook well,” Professor
Grace McLeod of this department says.
“Unless a woman knows how to cook
she can’t have a happy, healthy family "