Jane Addams challenged social norms for women in her era by becoming the first woman to graduate from college and opening Hull House to serve the poor community's needs. She advocated for social reforms around housing, sanitation, and workers' rights, receiving criticism for her radical beliefs but also becoming the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Her father encouraged her education and work ethic, and the Toynbee Hall settlement house in London inspired her founding of Chicago's Hull House.