For my first short paper, I discussed Jane Addams and Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Though they historically have not been valued as much as their male counterparts in the discipline of sociology, they have remained present figures in American history for various reasons. I feel like both of these women had an immense impact on the field of sociology and feminist thought, but their methodological approaches differed drastically.
Jane Addams (1860-1935) is most known for her work with the Hull House in Chicago, IL. At this facility, she helped assist her community and she became the mother of social work. Addams’ drive to create a better world for those around her was motivated by her view that it was the job of all people to invoke the social ethic. Her social ethics emphasized the necessity to see beyond individual desires and to examine what is best for the collective. She believed that peace and equality would be achieved when social democracy took over (essentially, socialism). Addams had a very hands-on approach to doing sociology, and she believed that theory would come as a result of being in the field.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935) had a completely different approach to ameliorating social ills. Gilman very much believed that people are shaped by their social environment. When she examined the world around her, she placed a heavy interest on three aspects of social life: work, culture, and gender. She believed gender was the factor that influenced society the most. Gilman believed that peace and equality could be achieved once gender classes had been dismantled. She thought that education and changing roles inside and outside of the home would be critical to breaking down this gender class. This emancipation of women, so to speak, would be the ultimate equalizer in Gilman’s eyes. Charlotte Perkins Gilman had a very hands-off approach to doing sociology, and she believed that theory should guide social change.
Though mainstream sociology has minimized the contributions of these two women, it is without a doubt that they have revolutionized the field and feminist thought. Jane Addams took a more hands-on approach to sociology, as exemplified by her establishment of the Hull House. Whereas, Charlotte Perkins Gilman took more of a grand theorist approach, focusing solely on theory. Both of these women had positive impacts on social reformation and are revered as founding feminist leaders. Beyond applauding them for their social reform, their exemplary contributions with their differing approaches illustrates to sociologists today that impacts can be made, whether one decides to commit themselves to applied sociology or academic-based sociology.