Anna Garlin Spencer was born on April 17, 1851, in Attleboro, Massachusetts. At the age of eighteen, she began to write for the Providence Journal. In 1878, Anna Garlin Spencer married Reverend William Spencer. After twelve years of marriage, Rev. Spencer became an invalid. In 1891, she became the first woman minister of RI at Bell Street Chapel of Providence, RI. In 1893, she spoke at the World Parliament of Religion during the Chicago World's Fair. In 1903, she became an associate leader of the NY Society for Ethical Culture. She was an associate director of the NY school for social work and staff lecturer at the NY school of Philanthropy. From 1908 to 1911, she was a special lecturer at the University of Wisconsin and director of the Summer School of Ethics for the American Ethical Union. From 1901 to 1911, she also lectured at the Institute of Municipal and Social Services in Milwaukee. In 1913, she was a professor of sociology and ethic at the Meadville Theological School. In 1919, she removed herself to New York. From this time on, she gave numerous lectures at Teachers College of Columbia University. She still remained active in a number of organizations that included many interests, such as women's rights, social work, and religious education. Spencer died of heart failure on 12 February 1931 in New York City, at a dinner for the League of Nations, which she had worked for many years to help establish.
Author
Spencer's book Women's Share in Social Culture was published in 1913, and noted women's lack of equality at this time. She pressed the need for gender equality, especially as women were no longer shut up at home but were starting to become a part of the public society that once belonged exclusively to men. By promoting the "individuation of women," Spencer hoped to give insight into the lack of rights women had. The Family and Its Members, published in 1922, this book shows the importance of the family and its foundation. This publication was based on three ideas: that the family institution should be preserved, that it should be modified to adapt to the changes in modern society, and noting the change in family order. According to the book, one huge impact on the family institution is society, which wants to control the family structure and influence the family to "conform" to social norms. Women are no longer silent in society; they are now recognized and play a role. Democracy once relied heavily on the strong educational upbringing of children. Now that women's roles have changed, women and their families have to find a new balance to still have a strong child upbringing. This solid upbringing will lead to a more beneficial society. Spencer hopes that society will move towards gender equality and decrease its influence over the family structure. Throughout this book, Spencer suggests ways the family can be more democratic and be strengthened by this new role for women.
Style and themes
Spencer wrote many scholarly books about women, especially with regard to women's work and positions. For instance, she explains that girls only work a few years, from when they are old enough to hold a job until marriage. With the brief work experience, women are not taking advantage of education. Because women know they are only going to spend a brief period in the workforce, they settle for low-paying jobs and poor working conditions. She believes receiving an education only to stop working and stop using this education after marriage is a waste of the education. She advocates that women return to work part-time after child-bearing. She also acknowledges women's right to independence.
