When They Want Someone To Turn To....

The NEA released the above promotional materials for the column, We, The Women, during WWII, while "Ruth Millett" was a war wife herself, raising her two young twins while her husband, Dr. Frederick Lowry, was overseas.  

We can see here why our grandmother's readers adored her.  Sassy and outspoken, she dared to say the things many women only thought.  With her 1940s brand of feminism, she asserted that if husbands were going return from WWII demanding that their wives "act like women," then the husbands sure as heck better step up and "act like men" themselves.  

Below is a transcription of the column featured in the promotional materials above.

-WE, THE  WOMEN-

 

G.I. Bill of Rights Gives War Wives an Idea for Own

By Ruth Millett

 

A group of soldiers in Europe got together and drew up their own G.I. bill of rights—which they figured would make married life entirely different from the army where “we can’t go to town without a pass, can’t refuse to work, can’t quit our job, have to stand in line for chow,” etc.

            Their bill of rights –printed in “Yank”—listed such things as “no standing in line for anything.  To invite the boys over at least once a week, if so desired.  Nothing to do with the kitchen.  To wear the pants in the family.”

            If the war wife made out her own bill of rights, it would probably go something like this:

1.      Never to put the car in the garage at night.

2.    To have her cigarets lighted for her occasionally.

3.     To go out to dinner (where there is dancing) at least once a week.

4.      Never to have anything to do with the car—except to drive it.

5.     To give her husband full responsibility for keeping the lawn mowed, putting on storm windows, dealing with the plumber, electrician, and Collector of Internal Revenue.

6.     Never to set a mouse trap.

7.    Never to mix drinks for guests.

8.     Never to lock up the house at night, or get up when a storm breaks to close windows.

9.     Never to make her own train reservations.

10.Never to shove around any piece of furniture heavier than a footstool.

11. Never to go to a “mixed” party alone.

12. Never, never to wear the pants in the family.