What She Said

Part II, Case 2: American Citizens

While in the early 19th century women were expected to engage politically as "Republican mothers," strengthening their children's relationship to their government, now greater numbers of women were directly engaging with civic public life. After women gained the right to vote, the League of Women Voters began a number of get out the vote campaigns that included awareness raising educational tactics, like this radio spot from 1948. The League of Women voters advocated on behalf of voters and their rights, as well as provided nonpartisan education on issues up for vote.

Another way that women's organizations aimed to connect people with their government was through teaching immigrants how to be "American." The YWCA's International Institute, depicted here in a circa 1931 brochure, aimed to connect and adjust foreign-born people to American institutions, while cultivating a bridge between Americans and people of other nationalities, "in order to promote the spirit of justice and good-will among people."

Rather than relying on the information families and traditional communities could provide, scouting and youth programs like the YWCA's Girl Reserves provided supplemental education and resources to empower girls to be civically engaged citizens. In the same way that suffrage gave some women a direct relationship to their government, organized women in the early 20th century worked to directly connect immigrants to the idea of being American, as well as to connect Americans to broader issues going on in the world around them.

Case 3, Professional Networks, is to your right along the south wall of the gallery.

• 1

  Voter Registration Radio Spot, 1948League of Women Voters of Los Angeles Collection

• 2

  Booklet, "The International Institute of the Y.W.C.A. Los Angeles, California," September 1929Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Los Angeles Collection

• 3

  Poster, "The Girl Reserves of the Y.W.C.A.," circa 1918-1929Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Los Angeles Collection

• 4

  Newsletter, "The Y-Wings," December 1931Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Los Angeles Collection

• 5

  Photograph, Girl ReservesYoung Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Los Angeles Collection

• 6

  Photograph, Girl ReservesYoung Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Los Angeles Collection

• 7

  Billboard Photograph, "A better world begins with YOU"Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Los Angeles Collection