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Company President Is LiberatedBY AILEEN SNODDYNew York — (NEA) —Mrs. Jayne Baker Spain's inner time clock was out ofwhack .again. She had flownto California from the East and also just been namedthe first woman director onthe board of Litton Industries, Inc. The combinatim meant she was wide - awake at 5:30 a. m. and sharp as the proverbial tael' for an 8 o'clock telephoi interview. Via telephone she clr bed her soap box for the women’s liberation movement and packed her comments for feminine equal ' rights withsturdy credentials.• Mrs. Spain joined the Lit-ton corporate family °s the only woman president when she marged her firm, Alvey-Ferguson of Cincinnati, with, the 3th ranking industrial firm. She took over control of the family company that makes conveyor systems in 1951. While living in a world of nonglamouous machinery,she brought a compassionate womanly touch to her business by insistin' on keeping a ratio of one physically handicapped person in every 10 on her employe roster., Whe. letting contracts forvendor items she' favored companies that gave the handicapped a job break.. All this dated from her college days’ Interest in vocational training. She studied medicine at the University of C?1;fornia at Berkeley and later, attended the Universityof Cincinnati.In August she became executive vice - chairman of the President’s Committee onEmployment of the Handicapped.There is a close relationship of business’ attitude toward women and the handicapped — a basic reluctance to give them a chance to prove ability to do a job.When she flies to Europe for business, she says the male executives just can't believe she is a company president. Recently an editor of a Ger publication, she explains, told her he was am:-ed at the drive for women to express themselves, even in Eurof- “I told him, ‘You can’t educate women and then tie them to the cook stove.5'5Even with the marches and radical stunts such as braburning and breaking down men's bar doors women have so far to go, Mrs. Spain admits.“For 2,0000 years men and women have been brainwashed to look at women as inferior creatures with inferior minds. I’ve done vast research for speeches “ on tie topic/’ she expla‘,ris. “Women still are not given ewualopportunity to compete for jobs. TTTomen, the typevr’ 2r and clerical positions ai;e considered synonymous. An employment survey in Ohio was discouraging,” she continues.' “When male bosseswere asked why they didn't haw women in positions of responsibility, the said, 1 never thought ofit, 5 or £If I prompte my secretary what will happen to me?5”Women with Masters ofBusiness Administration degrees told the Ohio committee that when they applied for a job they were given a typing test. Men with MBAs applying for the same position took the psychological tests as though they practically were hired.We need more women indecision - making positions inall areas of business and government, Mrs. Spain believes. This is a major reason sh.e is a co - chairman forRobert Taft in his currentrace for the U. S. Senate seat from Ohio.“Women must be part of the political structure and in on decision - making. Men don't give the same priorities to our current problems as women do. Men give lip service. Isee them s*il3 primarily as warriors. Women aremothers and protectors of children but never in a position to modify male thinking. In politics we would have aMrs. Jayne Spain is mother of two teen-age sons and president of a firm that makes handling conveyor systems. She believes the woman's liberation movement is critical. No country can afford to put brainpower on the shelf, ______*Womanchance to fight for:Safety in the city streets.Order out of a chaotic national Condition.Means to stop the inflationary spiral so the budget will stretch.rPeace with honor.Change can’t ve made overnight, she -a^ees. “In the year 2000 women will look back on this period as the Dark Ages.5’Often made to feel g :iltybecause her work took her out of the home and away from her two sons, now ^17 and 14, Mrs. Spain says the boys had her undivided attention at night when they were • small - children.“A mother who is out in •the world has something to talk about. If she is happy having something to do thenshe contributes more to ~ the family because she is not frustrated or bitter.“N- matter the time spent with them children will be all right if they know they areaccepted and loved in the home/5th this belief she quietly stresses the need for all wor~ ^ back the women's . lib movement.“T5ie meaning of the move- * ment,55 as’ she reads it, “is for ^equal rights for w ,;n to g ‘ an education and training in fields of their interest ‘ a nave the rig1' of compete for a and for promotions -on their ability to do £hi job ... not' o~ sex.”The *tne is crucial, she adds. ‘~To country can afford to put brainpower on the shelf — whether it is woman, man or handicapped persor. We need all the helpw e can g€l to keep up with technol-ogy”
Newspaper Details
Ogdensburg Advance News
Ogdensburg, New York, US
Sun, Oct 11, 1970
Page 24
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 01 Apr 2020
Other Publications Near Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg Journal
Ogdensburg Advance and St Lawrence Weekly Democrat
Ogdensburg Daily Sentinel
Ogdensburg Daily Journal
Ogdensburg Advance
