Chapter 21: The Progressive Era, 1895-1920





The following activities accompany the Legacy for a People and a Nation on "Women and Social Work" in Chapter 21. Refer to page 604 of Norton, A People and a Nation, Sixth Edition for the complete text of this Legacy. There are three parts to this web page: Questions to Consider, Investigation, and Further Exploration.




Questions to Consider
1. Are women usually the agents of social reform?

2. Why do you think "human services" is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States?

3. If social work is the effort to better the human condition, irrespective of gender, why might most of the pioneers in the field be women?

4. How does social work in the United States compare to social work in other nations?


Investigation
Read about Jane Addams as a leading pioneer of social work and a founder of the Settlement House Movement. Compare her goals to the National Association of Social Workers' Code of Ethics. In two columns, compare the stated goals of each. Have the goals significantly changed? What might account for the similarities and dissimilarities?

Some physicians and social workers believe that many of society's "ills" result more from genetics than from environment. If this argument prevails, will this remove or increase the "sexist tones" in social work theory? Will the over-representation of women in social work likely shift? Read an account on "Social Work's Role in Genetic Services" presented by the National Association of Social Workers.


Further Exploration
1. read the biographies of women and men who pioneered the field of social work, compiled by The National Association of Social Workers.

2. The Nobel e-museum offers biographical information on Jane Addams, one of the most important early social workers and founder of Hull House in Chicago.

3. Read more about Hull House and find out more about its innovations.