American Philosophy Series Feminist Pragmatism and Social Rights

Judy D. Whipps delves into the untold legacy of early twentieth-century feminist pragmatists who reshaped American legislative and legal history. As advocates for working women, children, immigrants, and racial justice, they fought for an interpretation of the Constitution that included social rights. In an exploration of the little-told legacy of early feminist pragmatists who pioneered social rights in America, Feminist Pragmatism and Social Rights delves into the transformative efforts of trailblazing figures, including Jane Addams, Julia Lathrop, Florence Kelley, Grace Abbott, Mary Church Terrell, Mary McLeod Bethune, Emily Greene Balch, Molly Dewson, and Frances Perkins. As Judy D. Whipps reveals, these women created and led organizations that were prototypes for later federal programs. Their relentless advocacy reshaped U.S. politics and culture, from grassroots organizations to federal legislation, paving the way for constitutional recognition of social rights decades before the United Nation’s International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. This book is the first to cast the philosophy behind these women’s political and judicial activism as feminist pragmatism. Each chapter illuminates their struggles and triumphs, from combating child labor to advancing women’s rights, and after their research gathered popular support for reform, they continued that work by writing drafts of legislation and legal briefs. This book not only chronicles a pivotal fifty-year movement but also serves as a poignant reminder of their enduring impact.