Show Role Of W orkin Wife I 1 IA II I A recent study by the National Industrial Conference B Boa Board o a r d takes a realistic look at the role of the working wife in America today The survey brings to light many questions that should be beof beof i of interest to families at all so social social social so- so I cial levels and suggests many answers that may not jibe with those of women contemplating contemplating contemplating plating taking jobs to double the income their husbands are making THE WORKING MOTHER WITH CHILDREN With prices so high and still climbing many young or mid mid- dle-aged dle housewives with children children children chil chil- dren are already holding down regular jobs outside the home for economic reasons But their experience has not always been as helpful as they expected it would be for reasons that may not have occurred to mothers currently thinking of going out outto outto outto to work Scanning some statistics on this situation we find that of often ten the salary a mother had thought she would add to her husbands husband's take has as somehow evaporated to an alarming degree before it got ot into her market basket For instance a woman who takes a job paying a year to add to her husbands husband's may well find that she ends up contributing only about to the family till Where does this sizable difference disappear to Well if she has two children and is not blessed with a mother moth moth- er or mother-in-law mother willing to todo todo todo do indefinite duty she will probably have to lay layout out as much as a year for a full- full time housekeeper or nurse Then there are such items as carfare or the upkeep of another auto extra clothing lunches and taxes And usually not considered considered con con- in advance the mother will have no time to hunt for retail bargains and ferret out short cuts that will hold housekeeping housekeeping housekeeping house house- keeping costs down CONDITIONS OF COURSE VARY WIDELY While this means that many manya a working mother will be surprised surprised surprised sur sur- by how slight her addition is to the household kitty there are many situations in which Itis it itis itis is eminently worthwhile for a wife to hold a job whether full full- time or part W chit Ch t dren are older and at school or college there are more incentives incentives ti tives ves for a woman to go outside the home and make use of her talents In the first place the cost of household help at this particular time can be greatly reduced and perhaps entirely eliminated Hence more of the extra salary can be directed toward the ed education education education ed- ed of the children timesaving timesaving timesaving time- time saving appliances and boosting the family's standard of living generally Despite the fact that many young women believe their place is in the home taking care of 01 the children and of the house there are a surprising number of women who want to take economic economic economic eco eco- advantage of their education education education tion and training as soon as reasonably possible Such girls consider their college experience experience experience exper exper- wasted unless they use it to help the family economically They feel also that they are healthier and in better spirits i If the they can fin stimulating work l HOW MANY WIVES ARE NOW ACTUALLY WORKING The gradual extinction of prejudice against females in various segments of the social and economic order has now be become become be- be come so complete that women are accepted in almost any role Out of the country's total labor force of about approximately approximately ap- ap pro proximately xi are women working today Of this number about 60 are married and many of them have children The trend toward an ever- ever greater movement of women Into the time full-time labor force may be expected to tb intensify over the years immediately ahead particularly in view of the manpower shortage in so many different significant fields |