Outspoken And Audacious, She Raised Eyebrows

Jane Addams was an anomaly in a man's world. She was one of those independent, college-educated women who historians referred to as “New Women.” 

Addams' outspoken demeanor surely raised eyebrows, but what most stood out was her audacious decision to live among the poorest, uneducated people in Chicago. This gave her the deepest understanding of the harsher realities of American life, and what it might take to fix them.

While traveling to England and visiting London’s Toynbee Hall, she witnessed the extraordinary level of caring services that were provided to poor industrial workers. She was so impressed, she vowed to bring that model to the United States, where families in her own Chicago community lived in crowded conditions and worked long hours with little support. 

In 1889, she co-founded Hull House, which offered classes, meals, and support, creating a place where immigrants and working-class families could find childcare, education, healthcare, and a sense of community. 

Addams believed all Americans were equal under the law and, at the very least, entitled to dignity. This drove her to level the playing field, where over time, she successfully was able to push forward much-needed reforms around child labor, workers’ rights, and public health. This gave her a place in history.

Later in her life, during World War I, Addams carried that same spirit and determination into her advocacy for peace, speaking out against war even when doing so was seriously frowned upon. 

"I am not one of those who believe, broadly speaking, that women are better than men," she said. "We have not wrecked railroads, nor corrupted legislatures, nor done many unholy things that men have done; but then we must remember that we have not had the chance."

In 1931, Addams became the first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, recognized for her efforts to bring people together, reduce suffering, and promote peace.