Clubwomen and Women's Clubs

      The first article I read was from the Indianapolis News titled Clubwomen Will Be Drafted Into Service. According to the newspaper, in the past it would take a long time to hear back from the women who were elected to be part of the board of the Indiana Federation of Clubs, if they even heard back at all. The Indiana Federation of Clubs (IFC) is part of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), which, according to gfwcindiana.com, is "an international organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service." The Indianapolis News states, "Clubwomen must serve in the capacity assigned to them, she [the president of the IFC] says." Because women often took a really long time to respond to being elected, or didn't respond at all, the IFC began drafting them instead of letting them decide to do the work.

      The next article to which I was directed was an article titled Club or Home? Mrs. Joseph C. DeNoon, of Pittsburg, Thinks No Woman Can Do Both Justice, and Chose Husband and Children from The San Francisco Chronicle. It stated, "Generally speaking, they [men] look upon the foundation of these organizations [women's clubs] as evidence of the uplift and the broadening of the influence of the female sex." However, not all men were happy with eating a cold meal because there wife was out participating in a women's club all day instead of staying home cooking and cleaning.  The article continues with, "... among women themselves there is a decided difference of opinion. Some are strong for the uplift; others are as keenly determined that the uplift movement should be confined to the home." Many women felt that women's clubs were a good thing and wanted to participate. However, a lot of other women felt that it was their job to stay home and remain the dutiful wife and mother. The argument of whether women should stay home or participate in women's clubs went national. The San Francisco Chronicle states, "Since when there has been a chorus of dissent from her [Mrs. DeNoon's] clubwomen, and the whole question of whether or not a woman can afford time for clubs is being argued over again throughout the nation."

       These opinions help clarify what I read in the first article. Women weren't accepting their positions once they were elected, because they felt that they didn't have the time or the ability to participate in a women's club and  remain a good mother and wife to their family. In order to make sure that the IFC had a board, the president began drafting the women that were elected to do the work instead of giving them the option to decline the positions for which they were elected.


Sources:
- Basic Newspapers: used to find information about clubwomen
- GWFC Indiana Federation of Clubs: used to define the Indiana Federation of Clubs
- The Indianapolis News - "Clubwomen will be drafted into service"
- The San Francisco Chronicle - "Club or Home?"