Doing Good: Soroptimist International

Given that women in the United States only won the right to vote with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, and the effective right to open a checking account in 1974, it is of a piece for the period and yet still ironic that one of the oldest international service clubs for women was founded in 1921 in Oakland California by a man.

The inaugural membership of that first Soroptimist club included more than 80 local business and professional women. The name was formed from two Latin words, soror “sister” and optima “best” which is taken to mean “best for women.” 

Soroptimist clubs spread rapidly, not just in the United States but across the globe . The London chapter launched in 1923, the German in 1930, the Estonian in 1931 and the Hungarian in 1934.

Today, Soroptimist International exists as a network of chapters in 120 countries and territories with a membership of about 80,000. As such, it has been granted special consultative status at the United Nations.

As may be taken from the name, Soroptimists describe themselves as “Women at their best, working to help other women to be their best.”   They endeavor to accomplish this in part through their “Dream” programs.

The Live Your Dream Awards provide resources to women who are the primary financial supporter of their family. The intention is to support women to achieve their education goals, increase their skills and improve their employment opportunities.

The Dream It, Be It program is directed at girls while they are still young. It aims to give them the tools they need to achieve their education, career and life goals with a special emphasis on breaking the cycles of poverty and abuse which might otherwise keep them from shining.

In the national and international policy arena, the club is an advocate for gender equality and women’s rights and strongly believes that education is the key to empowerment and self-determination.

With more than1,300 clubs internationally, and over 100 here in California, it’s easy to join the Soroptimists in their mission to empower women across the planet.

Learn more about Soroptimist International.