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Woman's Christian Temperance Union (view source)
Revision as of 03:23, February 21, 2009
, 03:23, February 21, 2009add
===Willard===
===Willard===
The most prominent leader was [[Frances E. Willard]]. Willard broadened the appeal of membership in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and justified the propriety of women's political involvement through a "feminism of fear," by advocating a new vision for women in society, one that promoted security above rights. Willard emphasized the importance of marital stability and the protection of the middle-class woman's accepted roles of wife and mother over the extension of political rights to women. Concentrating on organizing women at the local level, Willard was highly successful in building the WCTU's membership.<ref>Suzanne M. Marilley, "Frances Willard and the Feminism of Fear." ''Feminist Studies'' 1993 19(1): 123-146. 0046-3663 </ref>
The most prominent leader was [[Frances E. Willard]]. Willard broadened the appeal of membership in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and justified the propriety of women's political involvement through a "feminism of fear," by advocating a new vision for women in society, one that promoted security above rights. Willard emphasized the importance of marital stability and the protection of the middle-class woman's accepted roles of wife and mother over the extension of political rights to women. Concentrating on organizing women at the local level, Willard was highly successful in building the WCTU's membership.<ref>Suzanne M. Marilley, "Frances Willard and the Feminism of Fear." ''Feminist Studies'' 1993 19(1): 123-146. 0046-3663 </ref>
===Locals===
Typical chapters in small cities consisted of white, middle-class, Protestant women, with very few if any Catholics, Hispanics or African Americans. Their social standing in the community influenced legislators to support prohibition. The chapter favored women suffrage so that women could vote for prohibition, educated the public as to the problems caused by alcohol abuse, and played a major role in the national adoption of the 18th Amendment in 1919-20.
Typical chapters in small cities consisted of white, middle-class, Protestant women, with very few if any Catholics, Hispanics or African Americans. Their social standing in the community influenced legislators to support prohibition. The chapter favored women suffrage so that women could vote for prohibition, educated the public as to the problems caused by alcohol abuse, and played a major role in the national adoption of the 18th Amendment in 1919-20.
===Carrie Nation===
In 1899 Carry Nation joined other WCTU members in closing illegal liquor joints, using nonviolent means. However, in 1900 in Wichita, Kansas, she began using violent methods, smashing saloons with hatchets. The membership of the Kansas State Temperance Union and WCTU were split over these actions. In Topeka she met with Governor William Eugene Stanley and organized women into an army of Home Defenders who violently attacked saloons. Male prohibitionists began to organize themselves apart from women. Her crusade attracted nationwide hostile publicity (most big city newspapers were "wet") and had little immediate effect upon saloon business but in 1901 the legislature did enact more stringent enforcement provisions.<ref> Robert Smith Bader, "Mrs. Nation". ''Kansas History'' 1984-85 7(4): 246-262. 0149-9114 </ref>
===Sex===
===Sex===
In response to prostitution and venereal disease issues at the turn of the 20th century, the Ontario, Canada, branch of the WCTU took the lead in sex instruction for children. The group strongly encouraged mothers to provide sexual knowledge to their children at home, but the regimen advocated was virtually impossible for most households. The WCTU hired Arthur Beall to provide public lectures on sex to children, usually boys. His lectures mixed hygiene, conservative Christianity, and Canadian patriotism. In 1912 the Ontario Department of Education hired Beall to continue this work. The high percentage of Canada's troops stricken with venereal disease during World War I made venereal disease a military topic and encouraged the physician-led social hygiene movement, whose mother-blaming tactics the WCTU consistently opposed.<ref> Christabelle Sethna, "Men, Sex, and Education: The Ontario Women's Temperance Union And Children's Sex Education, 1900-20." ''Ontario History'' 1996 88(3): 185-206. 0030-2953 </ref>
In response to prostitution and venereal disease issues at the turn of the 20th century, the Ontario, Canada, branch of the WCTU took the lead in sex instruction for children. The group strongly encouraged mothers to provide sexual knowledge to their children at home, but the regimen advocated was virtually impossible for most households. The WCTU hired Arthur Beall to provide public lectures on sex to children, usually boys. His lectures mixed hygiene, conservative Christianity, and Canadian patriotism. In 1912 the Ontario Department of Education hired Beall to continue this work. The high percentage of Canada's troops stricken with venereal disease during World War I made venereal disease a military topic and encouraged the physician-led social hygiene movement, whose mother-blaming tactics the WCTU consistently opposed.<ref> Christabelle Sethna, "Men, Sex, and Education: The Ontario Women's Temperance Union And Children's Sex Education, 1900-20." ''Ontario History'' 1996 88(3): 185-206. 0030-2953 </ref>