Women's Emigration Society
Encyclopedia
The Women's Emigration Society was a 19th century English organization devoted to helping poor young women emigrate
from England to the colonies of the British Empire
. It was established by Louisa Hubbard
and Caroline Blanchard in 1880 and was active until 1884.
The goal of the society was to allow women with few opportunities in England to move to places such as North America or New Zealand. The organizers of the society believed that women would be able to find employment much more easily in these locations than they were able to in England. They generally attempted to find women jobs as governesses
or helpers for families. They also believed that women would be able to find husbands through these professions.
Hubbard began believing in the importance of female emigration from England in 1877. A writer pointed out to her that many more men than women had emigrated from England and that there were many opportunities for women in the British colonies. She then began publishing articles about this in her magazine, The Women's Gazette. These articles caught the attention of other emigration advocates and they soon met with Hubbard and decided to form the society. The society often worked with branches of the YWCA
in the locations that they sought to place women.
Hubbard later realized that there were several different societies working interdependently to promote emigration and decided to try to unify them. She then published a book titled The United Englishwomen's Emigration Register and founded the United Englishwomen's Emigration Association to try to unify the women's emigration movement. In 1884 Caroline Blanchard also began the Colonial Emigration Society to focus on promoting emigration.
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
from England to the colonies of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. It was established by Louisa Hubbard
Louisa Hubbard
Louisa Maria Hubbard was an English feminist social reformer and writer. She is best known for her activism for increased opportunities for women's education and employment....
and Caroline Blanchard in 1880 and was active until 1884.
The goal of the society was to allow women with few opportunities in England to move to places such as North America or New Zealand. The organizers of the society believed that women would be able to find employment much more easily in these locations than they were able to in England. They generally attempted to find women jobs as governesses
Governess
A governess is a girl or woman employed to teach and train children in a private household. In contrast to a nanny or a babysitter, she concentrates on teaching children, not on meeting their physical needs...
or helpers for families. They also believed that women would be able to find husbands through these professions.
Hubbard began believing in the importance of female emigration from England in 1877. A writer pointed out to her that many more men than women had emigrated from England and that there were many opportunities for women in the British colonies. She then began publishing articles about this in her magazine, The Women's Gazette. These articles caught the attention of other emigration advocates and they soon met with Hubbard and decided to form the society. The society often worked with branches of the YWCA
World YWCA
The World YWCA is the umbrella organization of the global network of the YWCA, a movement of women working for social and economic change around the world. It advocates for young women’s leadership, peace, justice, human rights and sustainable development, both on a grassroots and global scale...
in the locations that they sought to place women.
Hubbard later realized that there were several different societies working interdependently to promote emigration and decided to try to unify them. She then published a book titled The United Englishwomen's Emigration Register and founded the United Englishwomen's Emigration Association to try to unify the women's emigration movement. In 1884 Caroline Blanchard also began the Colonial Emigration Society to focus on promoting emigration.