What Does “Soroptimist” Mean?
Before diving into the remarkable story of this global organization, it helps to understand its name. The name Soroptimist was coined from the Latin soror, meaning “sister,” and optima, meaning “best” — so Soroptimist is perhaps best interpreted as “the best for women.” It’s a name that has shaped the identity and mission of one of the world’s most enduring women’s organizations for more than 100 years.
A Bold Beginning in 1921
Soroptimist was formed in 1921 in Oakland, California, at a time when women were not permitted to join service organizations. That simple but revolutionary fact says everything about why the organization was needed.
In 1921, the first Soroptimist club — Alameda County — was formed in California with over 80 business and professional women from in and around the city of Oakland. With Violet Richardson as the first President, the club met weekly, debating service projects and hearing speakers on worldwide issues that would broaden members’ horizons. The first project was to “Save the Redwoods” — the great ancient trees which were being felled — and the club lobbied the legislature, taking on powerful lumber companies, winning public support, which resulted in a major portion of the forest being set aside as protected land that still exists today.
From its very first project, Soroptimist proved that women united in purpose could take on powerful forces and win.
Growing Into a Global Movement
The idea spread quickly. Additional Soroptimist clubs soon followed along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, amounting to 15 clubs within 5 years. A similar club was established in Britain, where the first project sought to befriend girls who had no mothers and support a local Children’s Society to establish an open-air hospital school. Despite their similarity, neither club knew of the other — and as similar clubs began forming in other cities, all without knowledge of each other, a seed was sown and a global membership was taking shape.
In 1924, Suzanne Nöel founded Soroptimist International of Paris, the first Soroptimist club in Europe, using her worldwide lecturing series to share the Soroptimist concept and messages, prompting the establishment of clubs all over Europe. Nöel later became the first President of the European Federation. 1928 saw the foundation of both the American and the European Federations, and a Soroptimist International Association was created to provide a link between the Federations.
Standing Strong Through War and Crisis
The organization’s character was truly tested during World War II. During this time, Soroptimists embarked on rescuing members of the SI Vienna club and their families, threatened by the Nazi regime. American Soroptimists donated funds and clothing, many clubs across Europe were forced to meet clandestinely — making and mending clothes and preparing all manner of items that were needed. Soroptimists opened Rest Rooms for women in the forces, and a New Zealand club set up a refugee relief committee for people escaping from Europe.
Recognition on the World Stage
Post-war, Soroptimist International gained formal recognition from the world’s most important international bodies. In 1946, Soroptimists held a reception for delegates to UN conferences, which included Eleanor Roosevelt, and in 1948, the Soroptimist International Association was awarded Consultative status with UNESCO. The Association was awarded Category C Consultative status with ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council, United Nations) in 1950.
This recognition gave Soroptimist a formal seat at the table where global policy is shaped — a position it continues to hold today.
What Soroptimist Does Today
Founded in 1921, Soroptimist International is today a global volunteer movement with a network of over 62,400 club members in 106 countries. Advocating for human rights and gender equality, at the heart of Soroptimist International’s advocacy is its work across seven UN Centres, where its UN representatives ensure that the voices of women and girls are heard.
Through its global network of five Federations and its dedicated volunteer membership, SI is driven by its mission of transforming lives through education, empowerment, and by enabling opportunities. Rooted in the vision that women and girls will achieve their individual and collective potential, SI’s advocacy work and on-the-ground projects seek to drive the realisation of these aspirations and ensure that women and girls have an equal voice in creating strong and peaceful communities, now and in the future.
The five federations that make up Soroptimist International today are SI of the Americas, SI Great Britain and Ireland, SI of Europe, SI of South East Asia Pacific, and SI Africa — together spanning every corner of the globe.
Why Soroptimist Still Matters
Over a century after that first meeting in Oakland, the need for organizations like Soroptimist has not diminished. Women and girls around the world still face barriers to education, economic independence, safety, and equal participation in public life.
Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment, specifically those facing significant obstacles. Women from varied backgrounds and perspectives work together to improve the lives of women and girls.
From saving ancient forests in California to rescuing families from Nazi persecution, from consulting at the United Nations to running grassroots projects in local communities — Soroptimist International has always stood for one simple, powerful idea: that women, working together, can achieve the best for women.
