Should Wives Go Out to Work?

I have studied this question at various times with many friends of both sexes, and I have read much of what certain great thinkers have said on the subject. Often I imagined that I had formed an opinion of my own which deserved to be brought before others. Yet I held back from writing anything on the matter for two reasons that were, in my eyes, essential: first, because until recently I had taken no serious interest in the question; and second, because I feared to enter upon so grave a subject, dreading to commit an error or to declare an opinion that might stir up public opinion in certain circles. Now, however, that the idea has ripened in me and my views on the subject have crystallized, I see no objection to expressing my own opinion, hoping that it may meet with approval and acceptance among the honored readers of 'The Woman's Voice.'

The Lebanese country in particular, and the Arab lands in general, are witnessing great developments following one upon another with speed in the various departments of life — political, social, and economic. Some of them have a special local character that does not pass beyond the bounds of the Arab East; others are broader and more general, embracing the whole of human society in all its differing environments and conditions.

Perhaps the women's movement, which has begun to show itself with new vitality and activity in most of the Arab lands since the Second World War, is among the most important social developments in this part of the world — if we except the political developments, which hold the first place in importance. Women's associations have been founded in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq; women's congresses have been held here and there; and the Arab woman has taken a real part in them, proving in them her capacity and her understanding of political and social affairs — all of which shows plainly what great importance this development of hers holds for the Arab world, touching directly upon the development of its various countries in the other fields of activity.

But before the scope of this blessed activity widens, it is incumbent upon the responsible men — and in the first degree the responsible women — to lay down the main lines to which the Arab woman ought to devote the greater part of her attention, so as to direct her activity toward what will bring good upon her country. I am not now in a position to go into the subject at length so as to cover all the necessary main lines; I confine my talk, or my inquiry, to the treatment of the question with which I opened these words of mine.

Some believe — above all in our dear Arab lands — that the married woman may not, absolutely and without exception, give herself to work lying outside the sphere of her home, because this leads her to neglect her household affairs and to neglect her small children, who stand in the most urgent need of her care and watchfulness. Some go further still, and say that woman was created to tend her household affairs and nothing else, and that nature has marked her with special bodily characteristics that prevent her from performing the work that man performs outside the home. Yes, this is sound — up to a certain point. For the experiences that many have undergone have taught us that if a woman wishes to be a wife in the full meaning of the word, and a tender mother to her children, she must devote all her time to accomplishing this in the most perfect way — but on condition that there be secured to her, from her tenderest years, the necessary means of sound and wise guidance in matrimonial affairs, by way of the home and the school, and by way of the women's associations, the cultural clubs, and reading, during her new life after marriage. Her material circumstances in her married home must likewise be assured in a manner that guarantees her needs and the needs of her children. If all these conditions are fulfilled, then she must devote all her efforts to attending to her many household affairs and watch over them with her wisdom; for they demand it of necessity, if family happiness is to be complete, and if the growth is to be assured of a new generation fit to carry its country forward upon the ascents of progress and prosperity.

But there are exceptional cases in which a woman may — nay, must — work outside her home: as when she is in pressing material need, so as to help her husband in earning a livelihood. In this case she cannot escape sacrificing a large part of her household duties as wife and mother. Either she provides for most of them by employing a servant or a governess, or she sends the children to one of the schools set apart for the care of children during the hours of work. And here arises the question of the government's and the women's associations' concern for kindergartens and their multiplication. A woman may also be left without support, alone with her children, and be compelled to take up work to earn her living and the living of her family; and to her applies what applies to the woman compelled to help her husband in earning a livelihood. If, on the other hand, the wife is deprived of children, then even if she is a woman of means she may wish to take up some work outside her home, because she has ample time which she does not want to spend to no purpose, and because she hates idleness and sitting at home to receive callers; for many of this class prefer to do useful, productive work rather than be lazy and kill time without profit.

From what has gone before it appears that the most important work to which a wife should devote her effort is household management and attention to the upbringing of her children — an attention which, however far she carries it, is to be commended; for the first and most important wealth of the nation is a rising generation sound in body and in upbringing, and the first foundation of the nation's happiness is family happiness. The West has grasped this truth well, and its various governments have begun to show special care for this side of things, enacting the laws and regulations needed to preserve the family's existence and to raise its standard in every respect. And we, in this dear, rising homeland, now that we have won our full independence and sovereignty and taken the place we sought among the rest of the free nations, are bound to serious and continuous work in all the fields of vital activity — and in particular to work for raising the standard of woman, that she may be man's partner in very fact, and perform what she is fitted for in the best way possible, whether that work be domestic and familial or of the kinds that man usually performs.

And in my view it is you alone, Madam, who are able to decide the kind of work you wish to do — there is no one more competent in this than yourself — provided that you have received your due share of home, school, and social culture. And remember that the highest work you can perform, whatever your social station, is to be a wise mistress in your home, and a tender, understanding mother to your children, who are a precious trust of the nation placed in your hands.