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Emancipation of Women

Jolted from apathy to sympathy and the desire to agree fervently with "E. Pankhurst," I'm going to commit myself. E.P. has been reasonable and objective. I am not known for my reasonable qualities and I am going to be subjective.

I demand the right to stick my elbows inelegantly on a caf table and expound my views — in mixed company! I refuse to deny that I am capable of thinking of anything but looking decorative or men on a non-platonic basis, just because a person I am talking to happens to be male and expects me to build up his little ego by being dumbly and admiringly impressed by his views. I demand the right to disagree if I want to, or agree without his thinking I am making a pass at him. I'm willing and eager to increase my own intellect by listening — platonically — to other people, male or otherwise. As it is, the only men I can talk to without having to either act feminine or give up the relationship are those who are firmly fixed to my girl-friends, and even that isn't 100 per cent, satisfactory, men are so naturally unfaithful. All right, so I can't avoid admitting the difference between the sexes; I've had it conditioned into me from the minute I was born. It has given me a different point of view from the male section of society. Well, why can't we exchange views? Does the female view necessarily have to be inferior? Let us all broaden our minds in platonic understanding between individuals.

If I am carrying a lot of things, I am grateful to anyone for opening a door for me. I would do the same for a man, any day. The question of liking being admired does not arise, because I am not admired. Neither do I consider it my duty to always try to look attractive to men. I would far rather be respected for my thinking than chased for my figure.

I'll admit women are often to blame for this situation of non-platonism, too. "Do you 'Go with anyone'?" ask my friends hopefully, when they haven't seen me for a while. When I say no, if I want to go to anything I go, and if I don't, I don't have to, they get worried about me and start matchmaking. Don't I want to get married? Possibly, sometime. But if I have to submit my whole mind to some pig-headed male, no thanks! I will start saving up for a parrot and grow my hair for a bun. It upsets me to see independent, intelligent women letting themselves become indoctrinated in their boy-friends', finances' and husbands' ideas on the way to live or think. Some men even use Kinsey as an excuse, thus twisting their girl-friends' intelligence to their own advantage. "Men are different from women, dear, so " As E.P. says, to hold any other view is just too, too naive. I cannot spell the noise which is the only possible answer to that view.

I like men, of course I do, I'm normal. But I am a serious student, and am not here merely to mark time and find a husband. I'm sure there are many other girls who prefer not to recognise men only on social occasions, but to meet them on equal, platonie terms in intellectual growth, too.

—Maggie.