The Pittsburgh Press (August 27, 1946)
Ferguson: Men don’t like women
By Mrs. Walter Ferguson
Although the single ones spend their time chasing dames and the married ones shower their wives with luxuries, American men do not like women, David Cohn writes in the Atlantic Monthly.
It’s no news to us. Chief reason for modern women’s discontent is the attitude of men who give them everything except friendship. And nothing short of it will satisfy the feminine heart.
Only once in a blue moon do you meet a husband who regards his wife as a good companion. She’s either “my little woman” or “the old battle ax.” Neither attitude is flattering to the lady.
Worse yet, sons often don’t like their mothers either. Perhaps distrust of the feminine character begins in childhood when the boy sees through the hypocrisies which women have built around their maternal position. We’ve spilled enough slush about that to make our children despise us.
And whose fault is it, if we aren’t liked? Perhaps some of the blame can be laid to tradition and education. Girls have been trained to think of men as helpless children or cash registrars. From generation to generation, girls have been taught how to get what they want from men by deceitful methods.
Twentieth-century women are in a paradoxical position. They are neither dependent nor independent. And worse still, they have not the courage to be honest with men or themselves. While demanding political and economic advantages, they ask for the rich alimony whether it is deserved or not. They compete with men for jobs and expect to get their bus seats.
Sincere friendship between a man and a woman is a rare thing. Both sexes are missing a great deal of available happiness.