Talk:Jane Addams/Draft

Video

http://www.loc.gov/locvideo/womenact/  —Stephen Ewen (Talk) 16:11, 20 August 2007 (CDT)

New article of the week

Very nice work, Richard, of one of my heroes. I've nominated this for new article of the week.  —Stephen Ewen (Talk) 16:43, 20 August 2007 (CDT)

thaks! Richard Jensen 16:49, 20 August 2007 (CDT)

At the same time I just created John Adams, distant cousin? Yi Zhe Wu 21:25, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

Lesbianism

I was hoping someone else might raise this issue, but given that there is only 4 days till approval.... I think the following statement in the article is significantly overstated, stating things as concluded fact that can at best only be inferred based upon the evidence:

"Hull-House was lesbian-friendly space. Addams set the tone with her own long-term relationships, first with Starr and then Mary Rozet Smith."

Indeed, the source cited after this statement only allows for an inference, and one "depending on how one defines lesbian", which as I understand it did not have to involve sex. Moreover, from my reading of JA's correspondences, it has appeared to me as only something that could be inferred at best, and that the inferences are perhaps by eisegesis. The only thing really going on could have been intimate same-sex friendship, something not too many people understand or enjoy these days.

The Hull House Museum, in fact, has an exhibit under which this is written:

"Mary Rozet Smith was Jane Addams's life partner and one of the top financial supporters of Hull-House. Given the emotional intimacy that is expressed in their letters to one another, it is hypothesized that they were lesbians. It is, however, difficult to determine this for sure, particularly considering the differences in sexual attitudes of the Victorian era in which she lived and Jane Addams's own complex reflections on the ideals of platonic love."

I'd suggest verbiage along those lines, and perhaps a brief mention about "spinster" and "Boston Marriage". This will allow the reader to draw their own conclusion rather than holding back that information and concluding it for them.

This well summarizes that there is debate about the matter, and that confident assertions about the matter are unwarranted.

 —Stephen Ewen (Talk) 22:09, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

Also, the initial image, before it was lightened and reduced, appeared far more clear on my LCD screen.  —Stephen Ewen (Talk) 22:28, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

I agree that the current image is awful. Where's the original? --Robert W King 22:38, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

I have it on my harddrive. I'll email it to you.  —Stephen Ewen (Talk) 22:41, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

the original image was terrible on my screen--no details--so I changed the contrast. Richard Jensen 22:42, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

I'll fix it up. --Robert W King 22:43, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

the article does NOT say that Addams was a lesbian. It says the Hull House created a lesbian friendly space (that's a close paraphrase of Hamington: Given the drastic shifts in sexual mores in the twentienth century, the contemporary understanding of what it means to be lesbian cannot straightforwardly be mapped onto the late and post Victorian eras, but it can be argued that Hull-House was lesbian-friendly space. Addams set the tone for this identification with her own long-term intimate relationships, first with Starr and then Mary Rozet Smith. he cites Brown.online edition. Richard Jensen 22:42, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

Richard, to me that text clearly shows that the text in the article is overstated. Perhaps you might seek a second opinion.  —Stephen Ewen (Talk) 22:45, 5 September 2007 (CDT)