The Biography Of Jane Addams

Having been born in a well-off family in Cedarville- Illinois, Addams lived between 1860 and 1935. Her father influenced her life strongly. He taught her philanthropy, strong work ethics and tolerance. Through her father’s encouragement, she pursued higher education in Rockford Female Seminary. It was from this school where Addams discovered strong leadership traits as well as academic excellence (Johnson, 2014). She started also developing a desire of studying medicine when she was done with her degree of education. However, none of the parents supported her with the idea of pursuing medicine. During this period as her parents were giving her the chance of considering other possibilities, she took for a trip together with friends.

Addams father’s death was experienced as soon as they came back from Europe. Addams depression started after her father’s death. Even though she was already enrolled in a medical school, she had lost her passion and interest in Medicine which made her became more depressed. Her family saw the need of returning her to Europe in the process of healing with the depression. Together with her classmates, Addams traveled back to Europe (Johnson, 2014).

When they were in Europe, Addams was discerning her plans for the future. Addams encountered mental distress adversely in the course of visiting Toynbee Hall, a household settlement situated in the slums of London. Addams' interest was developed from the works of those who were in an attempt at addressing the needs of the individuals living in poverty. On returning to the United States, Addams had gained plenty of experience as an excellent base for initiating her work. After a couple of years from visiting the slums of London, Jane Addams resumed to Europe then proceeded to Spain. Addams put more effort into collecting data and information on individuals who were living in poverty. She further tried her best addressing these needs. A clear clarification came out for Addams on what her life was destined for. Immediately they arrived from Spain, Addams and her friend Starr started environmental scanning on where to establish a settlement house.

Addams interest was inspired and developed from the visit to Europe which dictated what she did in her settlement house establishment work. It was in 1989 when Addams decided to establish a settlement house in the United States by renovating the neglected building that was erected by Hull nearing the West Side (Deegan, 2017). This place developed quickly with sufficient rooms for adult education, children, social progress, and culture. Not only did Addams work with people living in poverty but also on actions concerning politics which had the aim of protecting them through established laws.

Jane Addams was yearning to better the living conditions of those other people. Her establishment of Hull House was among her legacies. She is regarded the founder of Hull House which was the only first home to provide health sciences, living in Her wish on improving other individuals lives as well as the successes while advancing public responsibility is part of her legacy. Addams is known for the establishment of the settlement house, Hull House, educational programming with the resources that could help the less privileged in Chicago community (Deegan, 2017).

The establishment of Hull House emerged a significant sign of social transformation as well as liberal effort throughout the United States. The primary objective of this settlement house was to safeguard the education and social privileges of the many working-class immigrants. Hull settlement house focused on subjects like history, art, free lectures, free teachings and domestic activities on the emerging issues (Deegan, 2017). Besides, summer camping for kids was also provided. At the time Addams established Hull House, a social worker had never existed before. Jane had to follow her inner drives, and the experiences learned when she was working with individuals living in poverty. Excitingly, a lot of what Addams understood from the people she was working with as well as serving best is the pillar of the present social work. Jane had a proper understanding that it was essential for meeting people in their surroundings.

Addams is widely renowned for her excellent leadership traits that led to the establishment Hull settlement house. She advocated that even in the less fortunate societies, inhabited by individuals who lacked primary education all ranges of education can spread and get established. Realization of democracy in decision making and political institutions had not been realized but since the establishment of Hull Settlement House (Ehrenreich, 2014). However, instead of the society being taken as complementary to learning institutions it should be considered as the heart or central part of learning. In 30 years upon the establishment Hull settlement House, over 500 institutions had widespread all over the world.

The value of these institutions was proved in all spheres of underprivileged refugees, and there was the introduction of recreation, education, social activities, and nutrition. It was until the 1930s when government institutions started assuming social condition responsibilities; settlement houses were leading in knowledge and social inventions. The settlers were affluent people who devoted most of their time volunteering, living together harmoniously with their neighbors. This contributed to the success of the settlement houses (Ehrenreich, 2014). There were a lot of supports accorded to the poor immigrants who were facing many challenges living in awful conditions by the residents. These residents could ensure good connection the people benefiting from these Settlement houses and the city institutions. These connections according to Addams were of great value for both institutions and the recipients which could easily encounter bureaucracy. Work connections did not benefit the neighborhood people but also permitted institutions awareness of individual realities and needs instead of prescription and standardization of services.

Addams encountered several outstanding accomplishments all over her lifetime impacting lots of people, herself included. She was an intellectual enabling her to establish the settlement house and winning the first Nobel Peace Prize and also served as the first National Conference president of social work in the United States. Addams was a Pacifist and a Reformer. In spite of her being born into a well-off family, she created interest in the weak part of the community. She believed firmly in justice and fairness and supporting the underprivileged made her establish Chicago center for the poor (Reisch & Andrews, 2014). The center had to serve the purpose of catering for the poor living in Chicago. This is where the immigrants could seek help or shelter. Hull Settlement also acted as an icon where there were widespread of such buildings over a short period. It provided child care services, educations services, and social services.

Moreover, Addams held the chair position in the school management committee board. She was also the first woman being the president of National Conference of Corrections and Charities and became influential in the establishment of Nation Federation of Settlements. Addams too traveled worldwide advising leaders to combat conflict (Reisch & Andrews, 2014). Jane Addams was chosen the Pioneer social worker because she had a clear understanding of the relationships between the essential reasons as well as individuals' circumstances they lived in and working determinedly addressing those conditions. Addams engaged actively in social change rather than observing passively.

In conclusion, the present social workers should act as good examples like Addams to uncover unjust and tyrannical structures as well as engaging the oppressed while challenging those systems. I loved about what I wrote about and Jane Addams is surely seen as the mother of social work for a reason. I found her work quite inspired, and I admire the nerve she had to stand up for what is right and just.