Florence Kelley

Florence Kelley
Student’s Name
Institution

Path to the Social Work Career
Florence Kelley was born in 1858 and by 1882 she had graduated from Cornel University. She worked as a part-time women instructor in Philadelphia. She later traveled to Europe to attend the Zurich University. While in England, Kelley developed an interest in socialism, which led to her translating Friedrich Engels’s work ‘The Working Class Conditions in England’ that was published in 1887 (WW, 2016). Kelley returned to the U.S in 1886 and published a pamphlet about ‘Our Toiling Children.’ In 1892, she investigated the slum condition in Chicago. She compiled a report that evidenced the miserable working conditions of women, and the situation of child labor; this led to her appointment as a chief factory inspector. In 1894, Kelley became a law graduate from Northwestern University.
With a law degree, she set to change the women working conditions and abolish child labor in the U.S. Kelley organized both local and state consumer leagues where he advocated for women and children rights. In 1902 and 1909, she founded the child labor committee and the NAACP respectively (WW, 2016).
Contributions
Kelley contributed the following in her life; she improved the living and working conditions for children and women; in this regard, she advocated for women rights that resulted in the reduction of the average working hours. On the other hand, she formed organizations such as the NYCLC that helped in the exclusion of children from the labor industry.

The improved living and working conditions were later integrated into the constitution forming a fundamental basis of the labor laws.
Kelley assisted in the establishment of the current improved prenatal care for children and women; this was established with the aim of reducing the mortality rate among infants and pregnant mothers. The contribution has improved the care programs provided to pregnant women in hospitals and more infants have been able to survive. Kelley’s contribution was included in the Sheppard Towner’s Act of 1921 (FKC, 2016).
Kelley’s efforts in labor rights resulted in the reduction of average working conditions and increment of minimum wage rates in the U.S. she was concerned with children, women and African Americans and her success transformed their lives.
She spoke on behave of the minority groups that lacked a ‘voice’ to air their grievances. For instance, she spoke for the children that were being undermined in the labor industry and formulated organizations that advocated for their enrollment in schools to acquire an education for a better future (FKC, 2016). Kelley was not discouraged by the fact that women were discriminated in the society. Instead, she focused on transforming the society and leaving a legacy for other women and minority groups.
How the Study on Kelley Informs my Practice as a Social Worker
The life and contribution of Kelley inform that a social worker must be willing to break the cultural norms of a society in order to achieve his or her interests. Kelley disproved the cultural believe that men are superior to women.
It informs that social work career is meant for individuals that are willing to sacrifice their efforts to fight for the rights of minority groups in the society. In this regard, one must observe the government system and formulate strategies for improving the lives of others.
It informs that social work career is important in representing the grievances of people that have been discriminated in the society; this reflects that a social worker should have good knowledge of the national laws and be ready to encounter political pressure during the struggle for reforms.

ReferencesFKC. (2016) Florence Kelley’s Legacy. Florence Kelley and Contribution. Retrieved on 12/8/2016, from https://sites.google.com/site/florencekelleyandcontribution/her-legacy
WW. (2016)Florence Kelley (1859–1932). Women Working. Retrieved on 12/8/2016, from http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/ww/kelley.html