Jewish women have become prominent in almost every conceivable field of activity. There are well-known women lawyers and judges, actresses and writers, artists and social service workers. All of this would be extremely pleasant to contemplate if there were not likewise a discouragingly large group of Jewish women who are nothing more than mediocre bridge players and rather bad housekeepers. This is particularly true of a good many young matrons. Most of them feel that they have accomplished something definitely noteworthy if they manage to drag themselves out of bed in time to keep their lunch dates. Occasionally of course they get “roped in” to serving on committees, and then they go around apologizing to their friends for having to ask for money, and wailing about how little time they seem to have to breathe.
After seeing them out of breath once or twice, one rather wishes they had stuck to bridge. Even more occasionally they get into bitter moods when they complain sadly that their lives are being wasted and that had they been born in another sphere things might have been different. These moods, however are quickly dispelled by the suggestion of anything difficult to do.
That is rather a dark picture, and it is unfair not to point out that it is very one-sided. There are certainly a great many young women who are tireless workers and who will be able to fill the shoes of the older women who have made names for themselves. But there are far too many who seem to lack all initiative, who are allowing themselves to become satisfied, dull, and mentally obesc. Their week consists of dates, shopping orgies and seven hours at a beauty parior. They are everlastingly busy and they accomplish nothing Their idea of a current event is the latest cosmetic, and they shine only when the conversation shifts to the latest gossip about their dearest friends.
So many of these women could do really fine work in a variety of fields if they had the ordinary gumption to stick to any one thing through the dull as well as the interesting parts. Not only is their work badly needed, but it would really seem in the last analysis that a lifetime of bridge-or is it Mah Jongg now-could hardly be called a satisfactory career.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
