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Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University, Wellington Vol. 24, No. 6. 1961.

Dreary Housewives

Dreary Housewives

It is made plain that any reasonably intelligent girl must follow some career. In effect, she must think like a man.

This contradiction, which also suggests that marriage and family do not qualify as a career, accounts largely for attitudes like Mrs I's

Mrs I.: "I cannot bear to stay at home. The four walls, the monotony drive me mad."

Miss O., an honours arts graduate, now a business executive:

"The whole problem is like driving a car.

"You may be able to drive like Jack Brabham, but because you are a woman you must constantly prove yourself. Or else people say automatically, 'Woman driver!'

"That is what happens when a woman is in a position of professional responsibility.

"Also in professions like medicine, dentistry, law, you are likely to learn that your own sex is just as prejudiced against you as men are.

"Even socially, you have to tread warily because the average woman suspects you.

"As far as marriage is concerned, I do not think you are much better off.

"Think of the number of girls who would love to marry a lawyer or an executive. Then think of the number of men who would love