What eight million women want   By: Rheta Childe Dorr (1866-1948)

Post Processing : Wilelmina Mallière.

WHAT EIGHT MILLION WOMEN WANT

[Illustration: CONVENTION OF OUR WOMEN AT HOTEL ASTOR, NEW YORK]

WHAT EIGHT MILLION WOMEN WANT

BY RHETA CHILDE DORR

1910.

TO THE AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EIGHT MILLION THE EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED

Many of the chapters contained in this volume appeared as special articles in Hampton's Magazine , to the editor of which the author's thanks are due for permission to republish.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I INTRODUCTORY II FROM CULTURE CLUBS TO SOCIAL SERVICE III EUROPEAN WOMEN AND THE SALIC LAW IV AMERICAN WOMEN AND THE COMMON LAW V WOMAN'S DEMANDS ON THE RULERS OF INDUSTRY VI MAKING OVER THE FACTORY FROM THE INSIDE VII BREAKING THE GREAT TABOO VIII WOMAN'S HELPING HAND FOR THE PRODIGAL DAUGHTER IX THE SERVANT IN HER HOUSE X VOTES FOR WOMEN XI IN CONCLUSION INDEX

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

CONVENTION OF CLUB WOMEN AT HOTEL ASTOR, NEW YORK

CARPENTER SHOP, VACATION SCHOOL, PITTSBURGH

CAPTAIN BALL ON GIRL'S FIELD, WASHINGTON PARK, PITTSBURGH

STORY HOUR AT VACATION PLAYGROUND, CASTELAR SCHOOL YARD, LOS ANGELES, CAL.

MRS. SARAH PLATT DECKER

LADY ABERDEEN

A "WOMEN'S RIGHTS" MAP OF THE UNITED STATES

MISS EMILIE BULLOWA

MRS. FREDERICK NATHAN

MRS. J. BORDEN HARRIMAN

MISS ELIZABETH MALONEY

A DEPARTMENT STORE REST ROOM FOR WOMEN

MISS MAUDE E. MINER

IN THE NIGHT COURT, NEW YORK

MISS SADIE AMERICAN

A TYPICAL DANCE HALL

AN UNTHOUGHT OF PHASE OF THE SERVANT QUESTION

ANOTHER SERIOUS CONTRIBUTION TO THE SOCIAL QUESTION

THE SERVANT GIRL AND THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY

SUFFRAGETTES IN LONDON ADVERTISING A MEETING

MRS. HARRIOT STANTON BLATCH

MEETING A RELEASED SUFFRAGETTE PRISONER

THE WOMEN'S TRADES PROCESSION TO THE ALBERT HALL MEETING, APRIL 27, 1909

HELEN HOY GREELEY

SUFFRAGETTES IN MADISON SQUARE

THE "QUIET WALK" OF THE NEW YORK SUFFRAGISTS, WHOM THE POLICE WOULD NOT PERMIT TO PARADE

SUFFRAGE DEMONSTRATION IN UNION SQUARE, NEW YORK

WHAT EIGHT MILLION WOMEN WANT

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY

For the audacity of the title of this book I offer no apology. I have had it pointed out, not altogether facetiously, that it is impossible to determine with accuracy what one woman, much less what any number of women, wants. I sympathize with the first half of the tradition. The desires, that is to say, the ideals, of an individual, man or woman, are not always easy to determine. The individual is complex and exceedingly prone to variation. The mass alone is consistent. The ideals of the mass of women are wrapped in mystery simply because no one has cared enough about them to inquire what they are.

Men, ardently, eternally, interested in Woman one woman at a time are almost never even faintly interested in women. Strangely, deliberately ignorant of women, they argue that their ignorance is justified by an innate unknowableness of the sex.

I am persuaded that the time is at hand when this sentimental, half contemptuous attitude of half the population towards the other half will have to be abandoned. I believe that the time has arrived when self interest, if other motive be lacking, will compel society to examine the ideals of women. In support of this opinion I ask you to consider three facts, each one of which is so patent that it requires no argument.