For the working woman the child is a burden and it should be a joy

The war disrupted the home. Forced to work in the workshop or factory, the woman continued to work, after the return of her support, because she had become accustomed to it, because life was more expensive and she had acquired a taste for freedom and independence. Today the spouses earn their living separately and the house is empty from eight in the morning to seven in the evening. At midday, we eat in the restaurant, in the canteen or in the refectory. In the evening, we buy cold meats, ready-cooked vegetables, or we hastily “make” a steak on the gas. What would a child do in this deserted home? If he arrives, he will be the one we didn't expect.

The young mother, who works, only has the choice between three solutions. Staying at home, consequently breaking with already deeply rooted habits of freedom and depriving one's household of a share of the resources that sustained it, at a time when new ones were needed on the contrary. Put the child in foster care: then these are big costs and the house remains, as before, without smiles. Or finally entrust him to a daycare which may not take enough care of him and will force the mother to get up earlier and return home later.

Only two children for a marriage.

The result of this situation was tragic: in 1923, there were only two births per marriage on average, instead of 3.51 in 1914; in total, 761,000 newborns compared to 1,450,000 in Germany.

How can we combat this increasingly alarming danger? By ensuring that the child is no longer a burden for the working woman but a joy freed from too many worries.

The State has tried to do so. A law of June 17, 1919 prescribes that, during childbirth, that is to say for two months, any employed and needy woman will receive from 50 centimes to 1 fr. 50 per day (1 fr. 75 in Paris)…

To this subsidy is added, it is true, a bonus of 15 francs per month for one year when the young mother can prove that she is breastfeeding her baby herself.

Is it necessary to emphasize that this is a derisory encouragement? Consider that free medical assistance is granted following an investigation by the town hall which, participating financially in the relief provided, has no interest in giving an opinion favorable.

What then is the poor 250 francs from the State (received sometimes late) to make up for the shortfall of two months of work (at a minimum), and to counterbalance the expenses required for medicines, nursing care? the midwife and the doctor and the hospital days at 25 francs?

Sorry, someone will say to me, have you forgotten that certain departments and some municipalities also participate in the State's share? Alas, it's still very little. The Seine, for example, gives the head of the family a bonus of 300 francs, but only from the third child onwards, with then an increase of 50 francs per child. Eighteen municipalities add, in turn, a sum of 50 francs from their own budget.

A national duty A meritorious effort without doubt. And it is not from the communes and departments whose limited budget has already been so heavily burdened by the war that we can ask for more. It is also up to the State to reward women who increase the human capital of the nation.

In addition, the credits made available to the municipalities by the department are not only insufficient, but insufficiently known since, out of 12,000 bonuses to be distributed, the municipalities of the Seine only requested 7,000 last year.

Finally, this law which grants women in childbirth a miserable aid of 0 francs. 50 to 1 fr. 50 per day is called welfare law and the word is as unfortunate as the inelegant gesture. The woman who brings to the country new strength, of inestimable value, at the cost of so much suffering and deprivation is not asking for charity, she is asking for a right. And what right is more sacred and more logical than this! Can a country determined to make all the sacrifices to intensify its agricultural and industrial production bargain when it comes to at least equal wealth: the increase in its population?

André Fage.