Surprisingly, the answer to the second question turned out to be-hatred and lack of compassion. When the population survey of 192 1 showed that there were nearly 2 million more women than men, there was a wind of abuse in society. The Daily Mail said: "These redundant women are a disaster for mankind." They are called "hooligans" and "food snatchers" and compete with veterans for jobs. Some people scold them for having "unhealthy female friendship" and laugh at their doting on pets such as cats and dogs. Sexual psychologists said they were abnormal, while British fascist oswald mosley called them "disgusting". A common view is that they should be sent to colonies. Some people say that Canada has a large number of male hunters and loggers, and Australia also has many opportunities to "have fun".
Nicholson's book mainly tells how these women are not overwhelmed by sadness and work hard in a new direction. One of the heroines is the famous archaeologist Gertrude Caton-Thompson. Her lover is a Qing army officer who was killed in the war. At first, she felt that even living was a betrayal of him. But after the war, she went to University College London to study Arabic and African prehistory. Later, she went to Malta, South Africa, Arabia and Egypt for archaeological excavations. She met a series of difficult challenges, such as leopards, crocodiles, cobras, fleas and swamps, but she overcame them all.
In Nicholson's story, some "redundant women" became explorers, entomologists, ship engineers, doctors, mountaineers, fashion models and so on. Others devote themselves to improving slum conditions and famine relief, or take up jobs previously reserved for men-such as the first female lawyer, the first female parliamentary adviser and cabinet member, the first female veterinarians, female civil servants and female architects.
However, Nicholson admits that most of these enterprising single women come from wealthy middle-class families. But there are exceptions Florence White, a textile worker from Bradford, later became a famous political activist and founded the National Textile Workers' Pension Security Association. Maid gladys aylward took her savings across Siberia by train to China, where she preached and cared for leprosy patients and sick children for 20 years. There are more ordinary women who are willing to live a plain life, and they are equally worthy of respect. By 192 1, the number of ordinary female employees has reached 500,000. They live in a small room that doubles as a living room, and do trivial work such as typists or secretaries day after day. Their weekly income is only 30 shillings, and their lunch is spent on a bun or sandwich. Most social historians think they are pitiful, but Nicholson interviewed many such women and found that they are actually optimistic. They are usually a group of female friends together and form a lifelong friendship. They like to go dancing together, go for a walk in the garden, or occasionally enjoy a high-end afternoon tea. This is a brave new world-much better than serving your husband all your life.
These women whom Nicholson praised have changed our culture. They turned Victorian spinsters into modern professional women. However, Nicholson believes that they are still different from modern women. They, like all people who have experienced war, have no high requirements for happiness and have a special perseverance and self-esteem. While praising those outstanding women, Nicholson did not forget more ordinary women.
Nicholson talked about a woman named May Jones, who wrote her autobiography on scraps of colored paper with a ballpoint pen at the age of 85. Jones is the daughter of a carpenter. Her lover went to France with the army and died on the battlefield. "I knew then," she wrote, "that I would be an old maid until I died." Later, she added with a pencil, "I was only 20 years old that year." The rest of the paper is blank. It is such a moment that makes this book so shocking and inspiring.