Women’s History Month: powerful inspiration from Chicago’s women

Women’s History Month helps us celebrate the achievements and contributions of women throughout American history, across a variety of fields, and Chicago offers some astounding examples.

It was 1910 when, at the Second International Socialist Women’s Conference, the  German sociologist Clara Zetkin -with the support of great Polish sociologist Rosa Luxemburgo – proposed International Women’s Day.  This idea timed well with the already important suffragist women’s movement. It was planned to be commemorated every year.  And in 1975, the U.N. pronounced the 8th of March as International Women’s Day.  It gained approval from the U.S. Congress in 1987.

According to https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/ , Women’s History Month started as a desire to spotlight women’s history as a segment of the national educational curriculum.  So in 1977, when the National Women’s History Alliance was selecting when to establish Women’s History Week, they made sure to include March 8th as a focal date.  Women’s History Week officially became National Women’s History Week in 1981.  And in 1987, it transitioned to National Women’s History Month, which is now recognized throughout the world.

Women Impacting Chicago’s History

Many important and influential women in Chicago developed their ideas, words, and actions that helped transform our wonderful city. Following are just a few examples of the women who have helped make the city XXX.

Jane Addams and Hull House 

Jane Addams was the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. An altruist at heart, she was a social worker, reformer, activist, lecturer, author, and suffragette.  She partnered with Ellen Gates Starr to open Hull House in 1888.  It was created as a space where university women could provide educational and social activities to the working class in the nearby neighborhoods.  The residents of Hull-House also worked together to research blights in the city such as housing, midwifery, typhoid, cocaine, and garbage collection.  Residents were provided with opportunities for education, fitness, art, and more. Addams was the first woman to receive an honorary degree from Yale University, which was a Master of Arts.  And in 1920, at the age of 59, Addams co-founded the ACLU, the American Civil Liberties Union. 

Today, you can visit the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum.  According to their website, the museum “preserves and develops the original site for the interpretation and continuation of the historic settlement house vision, linking research, education, and social engagement.”  

https://www.hullhousemuseum.org/

Ida B. Wells 

Ida B. Wells was a journalist who fought to end racism against the African-American community.  Her work focused on black women’s civil rights during the suffragist movement, which included launching the first suffrage club for black women.  She is also known for leading protests against The World’s Colombian Expo for unfairly excluding African Americans and for negatively depicting the black community.

Wells pointed out the racism suffered by her community via the common practice of lynching in the Southern United States when she published Southern Horrors:  Lynch Laws in All Its Phases. She shared this info when traveling abroad, shedding light on it and confronting those ignoring it.  She was the founder of the National Association of Colored Women’s Club and was one of only two black women who signed the petition to create the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Community building was important to Wells, who also founded The Negro Fellowship League and the first kindergarten for black children.

Gwendolyn Brooks 

Gwendolyn Brooks was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1950 for her book Annie Allen. In 1985, she was selected as the poetry consultant to the Library of Congress.  And in 1994 she was given the highest honor for humanities awarded by the Federal Government–the Jefferson Lecturer, as appointed by the National Endowment for the Humanities.  She was also the first woman to be included in the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Brooks was named the Poet Laureate of Illinois in 1968 and served until her death in 2000.  You can visit Gwendolyn Brooks park, where a bronze statue honors her work in literature. https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/brooks-gwendolyn-park

Learn more about Gwendolyn Brooks and her work here:  

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/gwendolyn-brooks

Strong and significant women have always been part of the foundation of Chicago, every day working to keep this proud city a diverse and inclusive community.  

Women’s History Adventures To Go

For the duration of Women’s History Month, you can save 25% on Hidden Pullman:  Sewers, Alleys, and Women.  You’ll learn about the women and housewives struggling through daily life in the newly developed community.  Book now and use this code for savings at check out:  rnkNwfB1xD

https://experiences.playeatlas.com/view/Hidden-Pullman:-Sewers,-Alleys-and-Women/hmX15R1G3NlEFEbHRYLn