Jamaica Federation of Women

The Jamaica Federation of Women (JFW) is a Jamaican women's organization. Established in 1944, it was the first island-wide women's organization.[1]

History

The JFW was founded by Lady Molly Huggins, who had come to Jamaica in 1943 as the wife of the Governor of Jamaica, John Huggins.[1] Other founder-members included Rose Leon and Mary Morris Knibb.[2] The federation drew on a legacy of pro-imperial white-dominated conservative women's associations, active in Jamaica from the late 19th century,[3] and on the Women's Institutes of Great Britain. Its executive committee included representatives of the Women's Liberal Club, the Women's Social Service Association and the Jamaica Women's League.[1]

The JFW neutralized more Afro-centric feminism in Jamaica. It attracted a large membership, including poor rural women:[3] by 1948 there were 30,000 members. After Lady Huggins left in 1950, local leadership took over.[1]

Papers relating to the JFW's history are held at the National Library of Jamaica.[3]

Current activities

The Jamaica Federation of Women celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2014.[4] "Today the JFW still represents a broad-based organization, with a wide network of rural branches, a leadership of elite, largely urban women, and a home-maker orientation".[3]

References
  1. Geertje A. Nijeholt; Saskia Wieringa (2019). Women's Movements and Public Policy in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean: The Triangle of Empowerment. Taylor & Francis. pp. 120–122. ISBN 978-1-135-62993-9.
  2. Jean Lowrie-Chin, This Blessed Jamaica, Jamaica Observer, 24 October 2011. Accessed 19 April 2020.
  3. Linnette Silvera Vassell, 'Voluntary Women's Associations in Jamaica: The Jamaica Federation of Women 1944-1962', unpublished MPhil thesis, University of the West Indies, 1993. Abstract online.
  4. Jean Lowrie-Chin, Jamaica's Federation of courageous women, Jamaica Observer, 27 July 2014. Accessed 19 April 2020.
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