A married woman may sue and be sued and make contracts in her own name.
The father is the legal guardian of the children and may appoint one by will. If this is not done, the mother, if suitable, is the guardian while she remains unmarried.
The husband is required to furnish the necessaries of life to the family; but there is no penalty for failure to do so, except that where the neglect has been continued for one year, when it could have been avoided by ordinary industry, the wife is entitled to a divorce.
In 1889 the "age of protection" for girls was raised from 12 to 14 years. The penalty is imprisonment in the penitentiary for a term of not less than five years, which may extend for life.
Suffrage: Women possess no form of suffrage.
Office Holding: Women are not eligible to any elective or appointive offices except those of county school superintendents and school trustees. There are serving at present one county superintendent and fifteen trustees.
Women act as clerks in State, county and city offices. They can not serve as notaries public.
Occupations: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to women. A number are carrying on mining, and have had mines patented in their own names.
Education: Women are admitted to all educational institutions on the same terms as men.
In the public schools there are 40 men and 274 women teachers. The average monthly salary of the men is $101; of the women, $61.50.
