The Willingness to See: An Analysis of Grace and Edith Abbott's Efforts in Social Work
Miranda is a senior at UNK, majoring in Social Work with minors in both History and Womens and Gender studies. After she graduates this fall, Miranda will put her passion for helping others to practice when she attends law school to become a Civil Rights Attorney. Something you may not guess about Miranda is that she was homeschooled until the age of 10, where she first remembers falling in love with history reading American Girl Books.
Abstract
This project highlights the vast contributions of Nebraska natives and social justice activists Grace and Edith Abbott. The Abbott sisters are fundamental figures in the history of public health, education, and the expansion of social welfare in the first three decades of the twentieth century. During their work in politics, the Abbotts saw severe problems in child labor, immigration, and women’s rights and argued for public reforms. This project’s analysis of primary sources illustrates the many accomplishments of the Abbotts during their lifetime such as founding the U.S. Children’s Bureau, writing the Social Security Act, and providing a new array of jobs for aspiring social workers. These federal acts of service underscore the Abbotts’s persistent influence on society.
Research in this presentation pays tribute to the Abbotts’ ongoing reform efforts that go beyond the scope of legal barriers to bring more comprehensive social change. From Grand Island Nebraska to the Hull House in Chicago Illinois, to holding high government positions, Grace, and Edith Abbott show how two small-town sisters can defy social, legal, and financial barriers to make a difference in millions of lives and create a solid foundation for the continuation of social welfare development.
The Willingness to See: An Analysis of Grace and Edith Abbott's Efforts in Social Work
Ponderosa Room C
This project highlights the vast contributions of Nebraska natives and social justice activists Grace and Edith Abbott. The Abbott sisters are fundamental figures in the history of public health, education, and the expansion of social welfare in the first three decades of the twentieth century. During their work in politics, the Abbotts saw severe problems in child labor, immigration, and women’s rights and argued for public reforms. This project’s analysis of primary sources illustrates the many accomplishments of the Abbotts during their lifetime such as founding the U.S. Children’s Bureau, writing the Social Security Act, and providing a new array of jobs for aspiring social workers. These federal acts of service underscore the Abbotts’s persistent influence on society.
Research in this presentation pays tribute to the Abbotts’ ongoing reform efforts that go beyond the scope of legal barriers to bring more comprehensive social change. From Grand Island Nebraska to the Hull House in Chicago Illinois, to holding high government positions, Grace, and Edith Abbott show how two small-town sisters can defy social, legal, and financial barriers to make a difference in millions of lives and create a solid foundation for the continuation of social welfare development.
