Social Responsibility In Jane Addams's Hull House

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Jane Addams served as a mother to poverty stricken families and individuals who struggled throughout their new immigrated lived in Chicago during the late 1890’s. Through her construction of the Hull House, she wanted to provide a foundation for the young people who eagerly strive for success but are halted by the whips and scorns of society. I found her to be motivated by three reasons for this action. First, in its simplest form, she wanted the people to have a place to call home. Her second motive was to improve the lives of the poor through educational programs, job opportunities, sparking new hope. Thirdly, she wanted to create a universal social responsibility uniting the people using Christian ethics. Jane wanted the Hull House to…show more content…
69). Home is a place for people to live care free, forget about the outside world, and enjoy the little things in life. However, it is difficult to call a place home when your only focus is getting through one day to the next. Jane wanted to provide these people something they could hold onto; something they could cherish. The construction of a coffee shop and a vast kitchen provided the basic amenities which the people valued. It took a weight off of their shoulders knowing they could have a place to eat and sleep when money was low. In essence, this was the first step in improving their lives; having a place to call…show more content…
The Hull House transformed this ideology by instituting extracurricular programs which improved their lives immensely. Jane Addams supplied European immigrants’ inclusive social, recreational, and enlightening philosophies which they used to enhance their lives. “Little children who came to kindergarten in morning followed by afternoon clubs of older children, in turn made way for educational adult clubs” (Addams pg. 88). One big thing after another soon led to a greater sense of civic responsibility and engaged the immigrants in new ways to make their lives better. It almost was as if the Hull House was separate in the sense that the industrial city was an ongoing battle, while the house was the foundation to overcome this war. While the gymnasium, social lounges, and eateries took the immigrant’s mind off of their struggles, they still faced the harsh reality outside the house. The city was not as accepting of immigrants, and the House attempted to make a point to be accepting of all races. “The first three buildings made visible what she was trying to do. Education and recreation should be extended to immigrants” (Addams
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