"Yes, ladies, you are precisely right. Your opportunities for employment are pitifully scarce, leaving you unable to earn a proper wage. If you cannot earn money, you hold no status within the family. And if you hold no status within the family, how, then, can you possibly command respect in society? Don't you agree?"
Dutch's voice, a silken lure, wrapped around Ms. Dorothea, pulling her deeper into his web of logic. "Therefore, if you truly yearn for rights and status, you must first conquer one fundamental obstacle: you must earn money, and ensure your income is not insignificant within your household. Only then, will those men dare to oppress you? Ask yourself, Ms. Dorothea, if your earnings matched your husband's, what true weight would your words carry in his eyes? Or, if your humble family relied on both your salaries for a decent life, and your contributions were nearly equal, would your husband not actively elevate your status, desperately trying to prevent you from abandoning the family, knowing his own life would plummet without you?"
Ms. Dorothea inhaled sharply. He's right. Arthur is absolutely right. If she could earn as much as her husband, their family's life would undoubtedly soar, and he would surely treat her with newfound respect. Leaving him would cripple him.
"And Ms. Dorothea," Dutch continued, his eyes gleaming as he watched her deep in thought, gently guiding her into a lavish fantasy, "once you possess income and familial status, you will command surplus funds, money to spend in stores. Will not the proprietors then grovel, flattering you relentlessly for your patronage? Will not your social standing inevitably ascend as a direct consequence?"
Hiss! Arthur's insight is profound! If she had more money, if she could spend freely in shops, in restaurants, even in the exclusive bastions of male entertainment, she would be lauded, praised. And collective praise, she realized with a jolt, was the very symbol of social status.
"And Ms. Dorothea," Dutch pressed on, his voice a mesmerizing current, "when every lady's social status reaches this pinnacle, it will no longer be you protesting for your rights. No, it will be the rights themselves flowing directly into your hands. Consider, for instance, the right to vote you women crave: if they refuse to grant it, you can all simply go on strike. At that point, the ones who truly suffer won't be you. It will be your men. Then, for the sake of their families, for the sanctity of their own happy lives, they will unequivocally demand that you obtain that vote, won't they? And the businessmen, those pillars of society, they too will inevitably champion your cause, for their own profits. Otherwise, if you cease consumption, wouldn't that be a pure, unadulterated loss for them?"
!!!
Ms. Dorothea's eyes began to blaze with a fierce, blinding light. As the intricate pieces clicked into place, Arthur's entire analysis stood revealed: impeccably correct, undeniably the most potent path to elevating women's rights.
"My God, Arthur, Arthur, you are truly so insightful! Oh, I am utterly at a loss for how to express my profound respect for you. Your method… it is truly unparalleled, absolutely magnificent!" Ms. Dorothea was utterly captivated, swept away by the breathtaking future Dutch had so artfully painted.
Seeing her fervent expression, Dutch smiled. Excellent. The stage is set. The fantasy, drawn. Now, for the true reveal.
"Oh, Ms. Dorothea," Dutch cautioned, his voice dropping slightly, like a bucket of cold water dousing a roaring flame, "please, temper your excitement. All these deductions are merely theoretical. The true process will be incredibly convoluted, fraught with immense difficulty. And first and foremost… the problem of employment for ladies remains glaringly unsolved, does it not?"
The cold water splashed, drenching Ms. Dorothea, bringing her back to a stark, chilling reality.
"Yes," she whispered, her voice hollow. "Fantasies are, ultimately, just fantasies. We don't even have basic job opportunities now, let alone substantial income. Most ladies are relegated to being maids, earning pitifully low wages, or worse… becoming prostitutes in taverns, selling their very dignity just to survive…" Ms. Dorothea's eyes immediately dimmed, a heavy despair settling over her.
Yet, as her gaze met Dutch's broad, comforting smile, an undeniable surge of trust welled within her. Yes, she couldn't solve the problem of women's employment, but Arthur… Arthur must have a way. She reached out, grasping Dutch's arm, her plea urgent, desperate. "Arthur, oh, Arthur, you must have a way to solve our employment problem, right? Please, you must have a way, don't you?"
"Oh ho ho, Ms. Dorothea," Dutch chuckled, a conspiratorial gleam in his eye, "that is precisely why I came. I have long admired your fearless protests, and I feel immense regret and profound sorrow for the current plight of ladies. So, I was compelled to come and help you. The first step is always the hardest, isn't it? So why don't I, be the one to take that crucial first step!"
"Arthur! Arthur! Oh, I'm so sorry, I don't know how to thank you enough! You are truly like… like God himself! Truly!" Ms. Dorothea was so overcome, she looked on the verge of exploding with sheer, unadulterated joy.
Dutch's gentle smile remained constant, unwavering on his face. He waved a dismissive hand, then, guiding Ms. Dorothea, he spoke, "Ms. Dorothea, I hold immense admiration for all of you ladies who dare to fight, and I shall do my utmost to help you. Now, I shall no longer conceal my specific intentions from you."
His voice deepened, carrying the weight of revelation. "Ms. Dorothea, I plan to establish a large-scale clothing production factory, one that will encompass the entire clothing industry of Valentine, Strawberry, Rhodes, and even this grand city of Saint Denis. And the work of producing clothing is not strenuous, making these positions perfectly suited for you. What do you think, esteemed lady?"
"Oh, Arthur, are you serious?! That's… that's absolutely wonderful! We ladies can all handle these positions! Oh, Arthur, please, will you make sure to reserve these positions for us? I believe every lady will cherish this hard-won job opportunity beyond measure!" Ms. Dorothea was now practically dizzy, reeling from the sheer magnitude of this unexpected, incredible surprise.
A factory! Working in a factory meant wages that wouldn't be pitifully low; at least fifteen dollars a month was now a distinct possibility. With these positions, a significant number of women would finally be able to elevate their family lives, securing a measure of happiness and stability. But most importantly, it would set a precedent: once Arthur's factory employed these female workers, more factories would witness the capabilities of women and, inevitably, expand their recruitment quotas for female labor.