FAIR's Rising Generation

Archive for June 19th, 2009

Elizabeth Fry has been on the Bank of England £5 note since 2002. She reformed the way prisoners were treated, promoting humane treatment and fair trials. She was originally moved to pursue this endeavor after visiting the women’s section of Newgate prison. It was overcrowded with women, some of whom had not even had a trial, and their children (who had to go with them to prison). They lacked sufficient food and clothing and slept on the floor with no bedding.  She brought them extra food and clothing, founded a school for the children, and had a chapel built.  She educated the women on important skills such as sewing and also taught them Bible lessons.  She even started a nursing school so that better health care would be available.

One thing that really amazes me is the common criticism that was held against her. She mainly got flack from the press for (supposedly) neglecting her role as a wife and mother. People argued that one could not be heavily involved in humanitarian work without putting house and home on the back burner.  She was married and had eleven children. First of all, I find it hard to criticize anyone who gives birth eleven times. Most importantly, though, I think that being a woman goes far beyond the scope of the household in which she lives. We all know that even for women who have lots of kids, the time spent raising those children is a relatively fleeting part of life. I would submit that feeding, clothing, educating, and empowering people is the role of a woman regardless of her parental status. I also feel that motherhood and humanitarianism go hand in hand; what better way to teach a love of mankind to your children than by example? Strengthening society certainly starts in the home, but it doesn’t end there. We’re all part of the human family, the Celestial family even, so the idea that an outpouring of charity to our fellow man somehow detracts from the family is mind-boggling to me.

Also noteworthy is the fact that, in her journal, Elizabeth Fry notes her mother as the most important influence in her life.  Her mother felt that girls should be educated, so Elizabeth got a full education, which gave her the skills needed to be so influential.  Also, Elizabeth loved to go with her mother to tend to the sick and needy.

That’s my awesome person this week. If you know of anyone, from near or afar, living or dead, personally or not, email me and I can highlight them in a blog post.

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