Blog # 9

Textbook: Chapter 6

1. How were women’s experiences of immigration in the United States distinct from those of men? How were they similar?

The women’s experiences of immigration in the United States were different and at the same time similar from men’s. The men came to the United States for the opportunities to make money and support their families. Then, many of these men immigrants returned back to their countries. On the other hand, women immigrated to the US for more opportunities for independence, to be able to work and choose their spouses. However, these women immigrants experienced a lot of difficulties, rape and so on. Many of these women became prostitutes. The similarity that the immigrant men and women experienced was that both men and women had difficulties to be accepted by the native born whites and anti-immigrants.

2. How would you characterize the differences among women involved in industrial protest, the populist movement, and the settlement house movement? Do you see any similarities?

There were differences among women involved in industrial protest, the populist movement, and the settlement house movement. Women involved in industrial protest were protesting for higher wages and better work place conditions. The women involved in populist movement were mostly middle class and elite women who were trying to have political power and have the right to vote. Finally, women involved in the settlement house movement were again women from elite and middle class. They were volunteering to help the immigrant women and their children in the stage of Americanization. In spite of these differences, I see some similarities. The obvious similarity is that these women were all fighting in different ways for women’s right.

Textbook document ( Chapter 6 pp. 381-385) – “The Subtle Problems of Charity”

1. What is the “diversity of experience” that Addams witnessed in her work with immigrants in the neighborhood around Hull House, and how did it contribute to the ethical complexities about which she wrote?

Adams eyewitnessed variety of experiences while working with immigrants in the neighborhood around Hull House. She was a volunteer college graduate and was working with poor immigrant families. She writes about the moral conflicts of different classes. Describes the life of the poor and the help they needed from the charity. All the difficulties that these poor families were going through contributed to their ethics. These poor people’s ethics were based on their social values and families. They cared a lot about their families and children. However, they also cared about and shared with their neighbors. They all supported each other because they were all going through the same difficulties. She also says that the ethical differences of these families come from their financial situations and their supportiveness.

2. How did Addams’s experience as a member of the pathbreaking generation of women college graduates affect her perspective as a settlement house volunteer?

Adam’s experience as a member of the pathbreaking generation of women college graduates had excessive affects on her perspective as a settlement house volunteer. It helped her to have a better understanding about the people around her. She valued these poor families’ social values and their helpfulness to each other. This experience also helped her to become a stronger person and try to do something positive to help these people who needed help. She was an activist who became a leader to fight till the end to make some changes.