This paper is on Eleanor Roosevelt’s contributions to society by changing the role of women in society by becoming involved in human rights and being a civil rights activist. After the introduction which includes the thesis, the paper presents Eleanor Roosevelt’s background information and her early influences as a child and a teen. Next, the paper discusses the nature of the social and political climate during the time Eleanor began promoting women’s rights, as well as her contributions to society and leadership qualities. Then, the paper concludes with Eleanor Roosevelt’s major social and political impacts as an individual in women’s and civil rights. Eleanor Roosevelt was an influential and peculiar women and First Lady whose actions and …show more content…
One contribution would be when she volunteered at the American Red Cross during World War one when many soldiers were injured and in need of assistance. Eleanor has demonstrated that she is a humanitarian in the way that she became a volunteer at a reform organization where she investigated sweatshops and witnessed the dangers of horrendous working conditions. Eleanor also helped feed those who were poor and had nothing to eat during the Great Depression. She was involved in the National Consumers League which exposed child labor and helped bring awareness to people everywhere. One of the most important factors in implementing change is to bring awareness and Eleanor made sure to do this. Eleanor also became the chair of the United Nations Human Rights Commission and was an important factor in creating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which is one of her legacies. This document consisted of all of the rights that humans were inherently entitled, was adopted and has influenced many other national constitutions. She joined the United Nations which is a world peace keeping organization. This enabled her to help people in other countries get the rights to vote, to speak publicly, and the right to get a job. Eleanor was also involved with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and attempted to end lynching and gain more rights for African Americans. …show more content…
Roosevelt was a huge promoter in the way that she became involved in her work, involved with those she was helping and was able to bring awareness to the inequalities in society. Eleanor was insistent and persuasive when it came to arguing her case and standing her ground. She showed persistence in fighting for women’s rights especially when the male committee “refused to adopt any of the women’s recommendations” and was made to sit out on the rest of the meetings. She insisted that the women be heard and, “stood outside the door of all important meetings and waited.” Eleanor demonstrated friendliness in the way she cared for everyone’s well-being and fought for peace amongst everyone. She cared and listened to the minorities who otherwise would not be heard. Her friendliness allowed her to easily form connections and create friendships with people who believed in the same things and contributed to her success. Eleanor believed that, “being drawn together through the work…is…one of the most satisfying ways of making and keeping friends.” Eleanor’s ability to network showed how motivated she was to accomplish her goals and bring people together. Roosevelt was not afraid to take charge and stand behind her opinions and beliefs and demonstrated bravery, honesty, compassion, and
In her early years, Eleanor was a debutante. Eleanor was enrolled in the Junior League (Scharf, 1987). The Junior League was a group of young upper-class women who planned to add social responsibility to their lives (Scharf, 1987). Eleanor took her role of social responsibility very seriously (Scharf, 1987). She taught classes at the Rivington Street Settlement House in Manhattan (Scharf, 1987). Eleanor treated the immigrants with absolute kindness and taught her classes with total commitment and personal satisfaction (Scharf, 1987).
Not only is she a role model to women, but to people who treat others equally. As women’s dilemmas, children treatment, and human rights have alleviated over the past five and a half decades, Roosevelt has not only made America great again, but the
Eleanor made actions of her own to support women. On March 6, 1933 the very first few days of becoming first lady she promised to hold a press conference only held for women reporters (Beasly). Eleanor supported the movement of women not only working in the home, but also in male dominated industries, such as the manufacturing industry. As a social gathering, Eleanor held the National Training for Girls at the White House, and received criticism for supporting girls of both races (Marlow 249). She helped 4,000 women get postal jobs (Marlow 250). She used her position to influence other politicians in D.C. She brought the feminist movement to the Democratic Party in 1924 (Marlow 249). Eleanor constantly brought up women’s’ issues to her husband encouraging him to hire more women in various organizations. She also interviewed Congress members to learn their stance on issues at
Eleanor Roosevelt was once a shy, timid girl with her focus on her family but over time became a strong leader, who would have rather spoiled them As a child, Eleanor was timid, shy and serious, but after her husband, Franklin, was paralyzed from the waist down she became a strong, determined women. “Meanwhile Eleanor had changed.” (pg. 794) At first, she had only got involved in the community because she felt it was her duty to keep Franklin in the public eye. However, as the years rolled on and her duty was complete, she still continued to make her mark in the world. This new, strong Eleanor did great things like working with poor children, helping with war efforts, and much more.Eleanor’s focus was on raising her children in a way that
When Franklin was elected president in 1933, Eleanor changed the role of the president’s wife in congress, to first lady. She showed the world that the first lady was an important part of American politics. After Franklin’s death in Apr 12, 1945, Eleanor stepped up and became his political career. Eleanor did what any other first lady does, she went to press conferences, but Eleanor spoke out for human rights, Children’s problem, and women and their
Eleanor became very involved in politics, because of Franklin's influence. She joined the league of women voters to help women make intelligent use of their voting privileges (Toor, 1989). She also tracked such issues such as labor reform, the rights of children, and international
This book is about a woman who forever changed the course of women's role in American history. Eleanor Roosevelt was an extremely important figure in the history of the United States, especially during the twentieth century. The way the author uses the book to help the reader to feel included in Eleanor's life, makes the reader feel as if he knows Mrs. Roosevelt.
While Franklin was finding his success in the world of politics, Eleanor was finding her own voice in public service by working for the American Red Cross during World War One. At just fifteen years old, she
An influential first lady, civil rights activist, feminist and writer, Eleanor Roosevelt was born Anna Eleanor Roosevelt on October 11, 1884 in New York City and died November 7, 1962. Eleanor was born to Anna Hall and Elliot Roosevelt, who is the little brother of future President, Theodore Roosevelt. Eleanor was raised by her grandmother, Mary Livingston Ludlow, after the premature death of her parents. Eleanor then moved to England where she attended a private school, there she had a feminist teacher, Marie Souvestre who taught and encouraged the learning in independent thinking in young women. At age 17, Eleanor returned back home in 1902 where she was presented in a debutante ball (her “coming-out” party that established when a women
Not only did Eleanor prove you don’t need a husband to complete your accomplishments, she showed woman everywhere that you can outrank your husband. Eleanor Roosevelt was always motivating every woman to be more and do more than they thought they could ever accomplish. She displayed countless moments of selflessness that made a difference. Eleanor grew up in an unsupportive household. Her father was a drunk and her mother was cold towards her for the reason of her not having a pretty face.
“Success must include two things: the development of an individual to his utmost potentiality and a contribution of some kind to one 's world” (Roosevelt, p 119, 1960). Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City October 11th, 1884 (Burns, 2012). Having grown up in a family considered to be in the top of society, Eleanor could have focused her life on parties and social gatherings. However, Eleanor came to the realization that she preferred social work rather than to attend parties with the rich (Burns, 2012). Eleanor is a perfect example of an effective leader in three ways, she was a lifelong learner, she used her position in life to better the society as a whole and she faced her many fears and flaws with life lessons she used later on.
Eleanor was quickly changing the role of the first lady, even through her activeness in politics. She was a strong advocate for many groups such as women, children, minorities and the poor. As the First Lady, she was doing things that had never been done before, like holding her own press conferences. She also tried to help women get jobs by asking all women reporters to come to her press conferences. In doing this she hoped that editors would hire more women (Morey, 46-47). She became very comfortable with public speaking and gave more press conferences than her husband. She also gave many lectures over the years, and also had her own radio program. Eleanor was very active with the
Eleanor Roosevelt spoke on from the United States side of human rights and the side of the United Nations against the USSR about human rights. Her point on human rights outlined what America was about and the structure America put into place to maintain a free nations for all of man. Of course, the USSR was not about the ways of the American way and thought of a government communistic structure to ensure their way of freedom to man. Eleanor called out the USSR's structure of government and compared it to the United Nations way of governing their countries. In my opinion, she attacked the USSR by calling them out and pointing out the flaws of their definition of “freedom for man”.
As a young child, Roosevelt was very timid and was never interested in politics. Her mom referred to her as the “ugly duckling” and told her that “You have no looks, so see to it that you have manners.” (Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery) During this time period, women and children stayed home and did the chores while the men would work. About five years later, Roosevelt entered a school in England where she was “draw[n] out of her shell” (biography.com) Years later, she became involved in politics and helped in many charities that supported African American and world issues.
A wise woman once wrote, “With the new day come new strengths and new thoughts.” These are some of the wise words from Eleanor Roosevelt. Eleanor lived a rough live, but she believed that things could become better at any moment. She was a kind, helpful, good woman that had a good life through it all. Eleanor Roosevelt was a hero to American History. Inspiring people to follow their dreams, work to be the best of their ability, and also to start a new day with no regrets or worries. She helped many people around her within her lifetime and definitively set a good example for others.