Women Form League to Dignify 'Housewife'

By Patricia McCormack
 To the husbands of America, a new organization proclaims - "You make the living and we'll make life worth living."

The invitation comes from the League of Housewives (LOH), the now division of Happiness of Womanhood (HOW). It was formed two years ago by a Kingman, Ariz., housewife and mother of six.

Mrs. Jacquie Davison, the founder and president of HOW, said the invitation to men is part of a campaign to spruce up the title housewife - sometimes worn with mixed feelings in this era of the women's liberation movement.

WE HOPE TO PROCLAIM our intention — To make life worth living — on bumper stickers and everywhere." she said.

"Housewives have been called leeches, parasites and even legal prostitutes by some in the liberation movement. "It's time for housewives who object to such insults to pull on the combat boots and battle those dragging the word 'housewife' through the mud."

HOW has more than 3000 members in 47 states. Its new branch, League of Housewives, was formed after the U.S. Senate recently passed the
equal rights amendment sought for decades by women's movement leaders in America.

THE EQUAL RIGHTS MEASURE must be ratified by 38 states before it becomes law. Mrs. Davison said LOW-HOW, with a potential membership of 44 million housewives, will continue to fight the equal rights movement, state by state. It may be the start of a seven-year war between LOH-HOW and NOW - the National Organization of Women founded by Betty Friedan, author of "The Feminine Mystique," a book engendered by her unrest as a housewife and mother and credited with launching the women's liberation movement. Why a seven-year war? Some authorities estimate it will lake that long lo get 38 states to ratify the equal rights measure - although optimists give it a year or two.

Of immediate concern to Mrs. Davison is the way the word "housewife" has been toppled. "Women's liberationists have tried to have the word 'housewife' taken out of the dictionary," she said. "Our Daughters are being taught in school that there is no joy or accomplishment in being a wife and mother. Wives are being called leeches, parasites and even legal prostitutes.

"Many times I have been told I am making my living with my body and I'm hiding behind skirts to have someone support me all my life."

Mrs. Davison said the idea of a League of Housewives is not original. Japan has such a league and counts 30 million members.

Mrs. Davison, wife of a chiropractor, said members of her organization "want to be loved and protected by our men." "As real women we want lo defend our homes," she said. "The liberation movement is threatening our homes and families. That is one reason we say to men - 'You make the living and we'll make life worth living'."

THE LEAGUE'S 10-POINT platform includes these aims:

• -"To teach our young daughters the joys of womanhood. And teach them to take on the role of housewife with the pride and dignity it deserves."
• - "To remove women's liberation movement teachings from our schools. Our tax dollars are paying teachers who intend to destroy our family structure.
• -"Restore morality. We want to restore dignity and respect to sex in marriage. We will teach our sons and daughters to be morally clean. Our children will learn by example."

Albuquerque Journal, April 2, 1972