BRYAN Marlowe has shown his true colours (Evening Press, June 19). If mothers remained at home until their kids left school, then the figures for unemployment, juvenile crime and under-age smoking and drinking would all plummet, he claims.

Bryan made no mention of the father's responsibility in bringing up a child. If he thinks women shouldn't go out to work, then presumably he feels it is the duty of the male to be the wage earner.

The rigid role-playing Mr Marlowe advocates often weakens a relationship. The suppressing of individual needs is a recipe for a strained, unhappy partnership that would not help any child.

It is the equal responsibility of both parents to rear their children, Mr Marlowe. Yes, there are many feckless, uncaring parents who fail to bring up their offspring properly. But by putting most of the blame on working mothers, Bryan Marlowe shows he's simply sexist.

Colin S Jeffrey,

East Mount Road, York.

Updated: 12:33 Friday, June 22, 2001