Beginnings and origins:
Women’s clubs were much more than housewives gathering together to gossip and drink tea. Women’s clubs were places in which women were able to be able to express their opinions with other women without the worry of men hovering over them (2). The women’s club movement began in the late 1800’s, and by 1890s women clubs from around the United States began a federation of women's clubs (3). Women, having been excluded from higher education, among other institutions , by men gathered to host their own study sessions on subjects such as “literature, geography and the fine arts” (4). Following the layout of men’s clubs the women developed skills in “writing, public speaking, delegating and event planning” (5). Later on the club women began to take more of interest in the problems of their communities, and added these local issues to their agendas (6). Over the years these women’s clubs were successful in various ways of bettering their communities because they were “a group of organized women in every community which can be depended upon to promote all movements leading to the betterment of life” (7). Truly wanting to work toward the betterment of life in the community, the state, the nation, and in the world the women began to take this study of their community problems and put forth efforts to begin solving them (8).
Municipal Housekeeping
Women's clubs did not begin with the goal of suffrage, or even with the intention of gaining more say in politics, but rather in reaction to worries about the welfare of their families (9). At the time women were beginning to see their cities as extensions of their homes, and they as “moral guardians” had to step up to guide their cities just as they advise their families (10). This concept of women seeing themselves as responsible for the welfare of their cities is called "municpial housekeeping"(11).
Women’s clubs were much more than housewives gathering together to gossip and drink tea. Women’s clubs were places in which women were able to be able to express their opinions with other women without the worry of men hovering over them (2). The women’s club movement began in the late 1800’s, and by 1890s women clubs from around the United States began a federation of women's clubs (3). Women, having been excluded from higher education, among other institutions , by men gathered to host their own study sessions on subjects such as “literature, geography and the fine arts” (4). Following the layout of men’s clubs the women developed skills in “writing, public speaking, delegating and event planning” (5). Later on the club women began to take more of interest in the problems of their communities, and added these local issues to their agendas (6). Over the years these women’s clubs were successful in various ways of bettering their communities because they were “a group of organized women in every community which can be depended upon to promote all movements leading to the betterment of life” (7). Truly wanting to work toward the betterment of life in the community, the state, the nation, and in the world the women began to take this study of their community problems and put forth efforts to begin solving them (8).
Municipal Housekeeping
Women's clubs did not begin with the goal of suffrage, or even with the intention of gaining more say in politics, but rather in reaction to worries about the welfare of their families (9). At the time women were beginning to see their cities as extensions of their homes, and they as “moral guardians” had to step up to guide their cities just as they advise their families (10). This concept of women seeing themselves as responsible for the welfare of their cities is called "municpial housekeeping"(11).