Jane Addams. The subjective Necessity for Social Settlements, 1892
Jane Addams. The subjective Necessity for Social Settlements, 1892
"It is not difficult to see that although America is pledged to the democratic ideal, the view
of democracy has been partial, and that its best achievement thus far has been pushed
along the line of the franchise. Democracy has made little attempt to assert itself in social
affairs. We have refused to move beyond the position of its eighteenth-century leaders, who
believed that political equality alone would secure all good to all men. We conscientiously
followed the gift of the ballot hard upon the gift of freedom to the negro, but we are quite
unmoved by the fact that he lives among us in a practical social ostracism. We hasten to
give the franchise to the immigrant from a sense of justice, from a tradition that he ought to
have it, while we dub him with epithets deriding his past life or present occupation, and
feel no duty to invite him to our houses. We are forced to acknowledge that it is only in our
local and national politics that we try very hard for the ideal so dear to those who were
enthusiasts when the century was young. We have almost given it up as our ideal in social
intercourse."
Jane Addams. The Subjective Necessity for Social Settlements, 1892
1
In the statement, Jane Addams is advocating an idea that would support
political reforms including the end of child labor
assimilation and acceptance of new immigrants
the right of women's suffrage
the end of job discrimination based on gender