In the early 1890s, she began writing political pieces for the Democrat, the Liberator, the Northern People, the Hummer and its successor, the Worker (Sydney).
[1] On 17 July 1892, Summerfield delivered her most famous lecture to a Sunday evening meeting of the Australian Socialist League at Leigh House.
The piece has been described as an expression of narrative identity, identifying her subjective sense of self and alienation with the injustice inflicted upon women and the working class.
[2] Summerfield became involved with the Womanhood Suffrage League of New South Wales, establishing a branch in Waverley and serving on its council between 1893 and 1894.
[1] In 1899, in Paraguay, she gave birth to León Cadogan, who made significant contributions to the study of Guaraní language and culture, and is considered[by whom?]