Women's Institute

873 Words2 Pages

Where women were often divided by politics, religion and language, one of the few organizations which admitted all women was the Women’s Institute (Spencer, 2006). What started off as a sister organization to the Farmer’s Institute by a mother, who was concerned about the science of hygiene, grew to become the largest women’s group in the world. But what exactly is the Women’s Institute, and how have they become the largest women’s group in the world? For 117 years, Women’s Institute (WI) Members have actively worked together for family, home, community and country (www.fwic.ca). The WI is a not-for-profit charitable organization with affiliations around the world, working with and for women in rural and small towns (www.fwic.ca). Through education and support programs and services, the WI’s purpose is to include personal growth opportunities, government lobbying and health and community wellness projects (www.fwic.ca). And as a result, each year thousands of individuals become more knowledgeable on various social, health, domestic and environmental matters (www.fwic.ca). The WI offers educational programming and community support; advocate for social, environmental and economic change, and work towards the personal growth of all women, for home and country (www.fwic.ca). Members belong to a network that connects Branches to Districts and Areas, as well as to the provincial (FWIO), national (FWIC – Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada), and international (ACWW – Associated Country Women of the World) levels of the organization (www.fwic.ca). Membership offers a wide range of opportunities, including monthly meetings, a variety of activities, WI’s Home & Country ROSE Garden newsletter, the FWIO Facebook Group, and the o... ... middle of paper ... ...nded together in the WI. Women who joined WI’s felt a responsibility to become involved in society and challenge social issues. When times were tough, for example when losing a job, WI provided comfort in that time of need and the women found comfort with each other in a safe place. The WI is a fantastic movement as it empowers women as there is strength in numbers. In isolated farms and small communities, where women welcomed the opportunity to get out and meet other women is where education and community were at the heart of Women’s Institute activity (Spencer, 2006). The Women’s Institute enabled women to educate themselves while improving the quality of community life. Why did the Institutes grow so rapidly to become the largest women’s group in the world? According to Michael Welton (2013), “the simple answer is that rural women wanted them” (pg. 86).

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