in 1909, ragaz served as the director of the swiss home works exhibition (), which featured spinning, straw works, cobbling and other handcrafted items created by women, but also discussed the problems of working women, unsanitary conditions and child labor practices. in 1913, she joined the socialist party of switzerland and along with her husband practiced religious socialism, believing that christian faith required a social conscience that focused on helping working class people. in 1915, ragaz co-founded the swiss section of the women's international league for peace and freedom (wilpf) and would serve as its president until 1946. that same year, she published "women in peace" from a talk she had given. in 1919 began working with the international wilpf in geneva and attended the wilpf congress held in zürich. in 1921, she published a translation of "tagore as educator" by emma pieczynska-reichenbach. that same year, her husband quit his university job and the couple moved to the aussersihl district to live among the workers there. they were committed to the social welfare of the working class and ragaz began giving lectures at the social school for women ().