The founder of the Women’s Institute, Adelaide Hunter Hoodless, lost her 14-month-old son after he drank contaminated milk. Hoodless blamed herself and her upbringing for not educating her enough about food preparation. She did not want other women to suffer such a loss, so she decided to pursue the idea of forming the Women's Institute where women could be educated about health and hygiene, enabling them to take better care of their families.