From Socialization to Social Change
Legacy and Challenges
Women's organizations offered state and local branches of national organizations of every type. The interests of women's club activity included:
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benevolence (such as Red Cross, P.E.O., Florence Crittendon Homes for Fallen Women),
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religion (missions, ladies aid societies, Ladies' Hebrew Benevolent Society, National Council of Catholic Women, Protestant denominations like Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Episcopal women's groups),
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youth (Parent-Teachers Association, Young Women's Christian Association, Girl Scouts, Four-H, Camp Fire Girls, Junior League),
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patriotism (Daughters of the American Revolution, National Society of Colonial Dames of America),
community improvement (General Federation of Women's Clubs, National Association of Colored women's Clubs),
work (National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Altrusa, Soroptomist, Women's Card and Label League, unions),
education (American Association of University Women, sororities, alumnae associations), arts (reading groups, quilting societies, National Federation of Music Clubs, Garden Clubs of America),
politics (League of Women Voters, National Woman's Party, Women's Legislative Council, women's committees of the major political parties)
women's auxiliaries to men's fraternal orders and mutual aid associations (Rebekahs for Odd Fellows, Job's Daughters and Order of Eastern Star for Masons),
and specific interest groups (National American Woman Suffrage association for the vote and Women's Christian Temperance Union for Prohibition)
Women’s Clubs Today
While varied venues for women's talents in the twentieth century have lured many women away from club participation, voluntary organizations have continued to tap women's skills. There are those who are convinced that the women's club will survive - and even thrive in the years ahead. After all, as more women join the executive ranks, won't they want the benefits of a powerful clubhouse? Don't women working downtown deserve to slip off their stilettos and enjoy good scotch with friends some afternoons, too?
