Editor’s Note: In the interest of fairness, we asked the Women’s Liberation group, which is located at Washington University, to reply to Mrs. Lottes’ column. Their reply was the following questions:
Some women, when initially approached about Women’s Liberation like Mrs. Lottes, feel they are not oppressed. However, upon searching a little deeper into the subject, they find that, indeed, they are oppressed and that they share this oppression with other women. These are questions to provoke thought about the oppression and exploitation of women — in areas which you may not have thought about before. Consider each one carefully, applying it to yourself and to women in general. Perhaps you will come to some new conclusions about yourself and the need for a Women’s Liberation movement.
(1) Do you feel that no matter what your intellect, education or interests, you are naturally suited for housework and/or child care? (2) Do you sacrifice your personal interests in order to get and keep a man? (3) Do you think that you must be married and have children by a certain age? Have you ever panicked thinking that “this guy is your last chance?” Could this happen to you in the future? (4) Did you ever want to be a boy? Were you proud of being called “tomboy”? Do you think boys ever want to be girls? (5) Do you dump a girl friend when a man friend calls, feeling that your girl friend has no right to object? (6) Do you have to ask permission from the man in your life in order to go out on your own or with your friends? (7) Do you ever feel that other women are rivals? Do you think that the saying “women just can’t get along with each other” is true? (8) Do you feel that it is necessary for a man to pay for taking out a woman? Do you feel that the present “courting” or “dating” system over-emphasizes sex-roles in men and women? (9) Do you think in terms of working only until you get married or have children? Do you think that it is impossible for a woman to be a good wife and mother and have a meaningful career at the same time? (10) Do you work full-time and do all the housework, too? Even if your husband helps you out, is the housework still primarily your responsibility? (11) Are you insulted by commercials and advertisements for household and beauty products? (12) Are you afraid to leave your children with others because only you can understand them? (13) Do you take your husband’s/ boyfriend’s opinions on world affairs as your own? (14) Do you feel that life for the unmarried woman is meaningful? Have you ever felt sorry for women who never married? (15) Do you feel that women have less meaningful jobs than men? (16) Do you feel that it is unjust that women make much lower wages than men? (17) Have you ever done significant work — only to have the credit for it be taken by a man? Do you think that men should make almost all important decisions, while women do the “dirty work”? (18) Do you feel helpless when something mechnical breaks down? Do you feel that you can never understand mechnical things? (19) Do you feel uncomfortable about your body?
Published by ST. LOUIS UNDERGROUND WOMEN, a Women’s Liberation group. If you are interested or would like to discuss or debate any of the above questions, please contact us through Patsy O’Connell — OL2-2688, or Lynn Backus — 436-1769.
Originally published in The Paper, October 1970.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1970_10.pdf, printed page(s) 5.
