Political culture and gender in rural community life: Agrarian activism in Lewis County, Washington, 1890-1925.

Abstract

Most studies of agrarian activism have focused on single movements and ignored women and issues of gender. However, rural voters in Lewis county, Washington supported a series of radical third parties from 1892 to the 1920's, and women as well as men were active in those movements. Although significant economic changes occurred during this period--particularly the specialization in dairy and poultry and the establishment of successful marketing cooperatives in the twentieth century--farmers' political goals remained much the same. They sought a government active in the interests of farmers and workers, lower taxes, and political and economic self-determination. Many organizations encouraged strong social ties between farmers and townspeople. But the Farmers Alliance in !he 1890's and the Grange thereafter nurtured traditions of democracy and a consciousness of farmers as producers that led farmers to political activism and thus conflict with townspeople. Farmer organizations also championed the political participation of women--in contrast to other community associations. The continued strength of the Grange, and thus the continuation of third party activism, resulted in part from their acceptance of women as equal members, while at the same time they benefitted from gender specific contributions by both men and women. Farmers chose the Grange, with its combination of political activism and social programs and its inclusion of all family members, over the politically conservative and sexually segregated Farm Bureau promoted by town businessmen and government agents. They were also highly selective in what practices advocated by the Extension Service they were willing to accept. Farmers' continued commitment to reform activism during the post-war Red Scare increased the town/country conflict already present. Nonetheless, farm families living near towns remained tied to townspeople by shared commitment to their communities and desire for economic growth. This study relied on newspapers, organizational records, census manuscripts and other sources to develop a picture of the complexities of rural and small town community life and the political culture that emerged.