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SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1932. Volume 3. Number 2.

Modern Woman Replies

Modern Woman Replies.

Dear "Smad,"—

If Magnanimous only knew, much light is thrown on this subject by his playful "Apology" for us in last issue.

Firstly, he seems to think his apology is an act of magnanimity. Well, we are tolerantly grateful for his good intentions, and we are also amused. Does he imagine that the ultimate goal of our bid for full status as human beings is solely ami only that we may acquire a few masculine vices? Let me tell him that the facts that women no longer wholly forswear tobacco, and that they sometimes "take a little wine for their stomach' sake" (his baulking at that universal adjunct of genus homo, "stomach" when writing of woman is a tantalisingly Victorian piece of mock modesty) are merely straws which show the way the wind is blowing. Had it not been for the countless generations of mannish prudery where women are concerned, wine and smoke would never have been regarded as masculine prerogatives, nor would the assumption of these sacred "rights" of men have been included as a part (and an episodical part at that) of woman's bid for her fundamental right to equality of status. Equality of status, did I say? Let Magnanimous and his ilk take note that the is aim is only the first rung of the ladder; the time will yet come when man will aspire to equality of status with woman, and when some magnanimous woman will be writing to "Smad" apologising for the modern man, and, by heaven, he'll need it!

The advocacy of Magnanimous for wine as a magic potion to extract truth from woman is most irritating. "What is the truth?" said Pilate, but got no answer because he didn't ask a woman. The proverbial jest about our veracity has worn a bit thin, as I hope Magnanimous will appreciate when these home truths penetrate his pericranium.

The present generation is witnessing the most significant revolution in the relativity of status of man and woman since the world began—this generation of ours, out of all the myriads of generations that have gone before! It is difficult' for us to realise this to the full, because we are on the spot; but posterity will know and exult; for every woman of this generation, if she only would, is privileged to be the Joan of Arc of the most wonderful crusade of all the ages!

Every woman, at last the Banner is given into your hand! Do not fail your fellow-crusaders, carry it to victory!

Yours, etc.,

Maid Militant.