Designed for action

Cataloguing retroconversion of American items has revealed this beauty from 1947. Called "Dresses and aprons for work and in the home" it was published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and written by a clothing specialist and scientific aid. Aimed at "homemakers," it shows how to make practical clothing "designed for action" which are easy to put on without mussing the hair, are comfortable yet becoming.
The photo below shows the "basket apron," ideal for carrying eggs or beans.

Here is the "mop apron," which holds the skirt out of the way of mop water.

And here is a dress made for "girls and young homemakers." Styled for comfort, it also keeps the wearer cool.

Gentleman need not feel left out; there is a pocketed apron designed for the man of the house. Finally, for those ladies who "run little errands in and out of doors", there is even a "kitchen jacket" with "action pleats" so there will be no restriction to applying elbow grease!


(All photos from "Dresses and aprons for work and in the home" at shelfmark F1/AC.14)

Do women have power?

This 1979 Report to the US Commission on Civil Rights is entitled “Battered Women in Hartford, Connecticut”.
It includes statistics that clarify how serious and widespread the abuse of women was at that time. An interesting paragraph about “Incidence” tells us that abuse occurs in upper and middle income homes as well as poor families. The same incidence is reported in every ethnic group. The level of education does not improve the dramatic situation: the incidence of abuse is similar among professionals, factory workers and unemployed men.
What I personally find amazing about this publication is how it goes straight to the heart of the problem: the reason for abuse against women is officially recognized to be the “institutionalized powerlessness for women”.
The only remedy would be that:
“Women must assume power politically, financially and socially. (…) women must be given equal access to jobs and paid equally for their work, women must be elected to political office”.
Although 30 years old, this report describes an on-going situation: in 2009, in every single democratic country all around the globe, women with the same skills, experience and job title, are paid less than their male colleagues. And women are definitely excluded from certain jobs, like the highest political roles: no Ms President so far…

Still Sexy and Powerful?

The Equality and Human Rights Commission's report on women and society, "Sex and Power", makes fairly depressing reading. It reveals that the advancement of women has slowed considerably in the last few years. In fact, one of the most startling facts is that "A snail could crawl the entire length of the Great Wall of China in 212 years, just slightly longer than the 200 years it will take for women to be equally represented in Parliament."
What's stopping us? Greater recognition of the importance of flexible working (enforced by legislation) may not yet have had a chance to kick in, but there are wider issues. Maybe we just don't want to "have it all" anymore, after all it's hard work being a career woman, mum, lover, housemaid, cook, cleaner, chauffeur...