Gender Discrimination During The Early Nineteenth Century

Due to the demand of labor occurring in America, industries were at a deficit in workers. This led for young women to be hired to fill the gaps of labor of the deficit. This change went against society’s perception of a woman’s role. Before industries allowed women

In the 1900s women were not primarily seen in the work force. Women were at home cooking fresh meals mostly from the garden they grew themselves. They cleaned the house, and took care of the offspring. Women accommodated to their men. The men were the main source of income. The women typically didn’t see the money nor spend it. If the women were single they happened to work but it was little pesky job such as a waitress. In 1930s even during the great depression women were discouraged getting jobs. Until later on during the 1960s that’s when women started to stand up for their rights. This is when they passed a bill stating “Title VII of the Civil Rights Act bans discrimination in employment on the basis of race and sex. At the same time the Act establishes the Equal Employment

When manufacturing plants started booming, they found business. Women became valuable factory workers because of their ability to complete complex tasks in the work place. Also, having willingness to labor for an inexpensive pay rate because they were in need boosted their chances of employment. In fact, employers needed them and were happy at the fact that they weren 't too costly to hire. In the document, Morals of Manufactures (1837), it states, “Many of the girls are in the factories because they have too much pride for domestic service.”(Chapter 9 Page 223) As stated before, women were looked over as far being capable of anything else other than a house wife and or mother. Some women worked for pay, as well as to prove that they were more than what society labeled them. This allowed women to make their own money and not be forced to completely live off their husbands. Also, this gave women a freedom and sensibility to become more independent.

In the 19th century, the Market Revolution was created, resulting significance in American history by redefining the roles for genders, especially for women. During this time, factories began to appear changing the nature of work for men and women. Although, women were employed cheaper because at the time in Colonial America, men were considered superior to women, even in terms of morality. Some women worked effectively by applying their strength of factories, while other women adapted to a private lifestyle avoiding conflicts in the market economy. However, the privileges were determined based on a family’s class status, which were middle and upper classmen that gave a higher advantage than those who were poor. Those who were married had no

However, not only did women work in the fields they also produce goods, and services; such as clothing, personal hygiene items, and food to be sold in order to build -up their coffer’s through that of their overabundance of supplies. This impact took place during the 1700’s and beyond, when women from all aspects of life filled these domestic jobs while working for very little pay; getting absolutely nothing at all for their work. During the 1800’s, however, this all changed for women and soon these women we’re categorized as being unskilled workers this causing tremendous consequences for these women; especially when the men return for war and once again took on the gender roles to which women were now a custom too.

The 19th century was the start of the American industrial revolution that transitioned the rural nation to one that was more urbanized with the rise of big businesses. Factory owners were now able to hire less skilled workers due to methods such as taylorism in factory production. That shift triggered the need to to hire more unskilled laborers like women and children, will to work for low wages. Like many of the citizens of the lower class, the women working in these factories weren’t benefiting from the economic boom that was provided by the industrial revolution but the ability for them to be able to contribute to the income need for their family to survive empowered them with the feelings of independence and economic power. Following years

Robert L. Daniel, author of, American Women in the Twentieth Century, explains that women were being recruited to work in various jobs (122). Single women, ones that did not hold responsibilities to a husband or family were employed first and women that had families were taken only as a last resort (Daniel 123). Daniel further explains, "The nation's need permitted an expansion of women's economic role without it being perceived as a feminist threat" (123). What women could offer was now found as valuable and useful. The public opinion of women made a drastic turn around from their previous attitudes. The government and the media no longer looked down upon women for entering the work force, but gave much encouragement (Chafe, 134). In magazines such as "Lifetime" there were even advertisements promoting women to work.

By the late 19th century and early 20th century women were more involved in the workforce. They were doing domestic service, working in factories, workshops, tin and coal mines, farms, etc. Many of the jobs that women were doing required a lot of physical labor, and even though they still wanted or needed to have these jobs they weren’t compensated with a proportional wage. What they received was looked as a second earning for the household and the men of the house whom had far more “skillful” jobs required a higher pay. Truth is, women were the ones doing the difficult jobs and working more than the men were but that was of no importance but to women themselves.

The female wage earners impacted the economic climate of the 1800s and caused significant change to women public activism. While, the majority of white female wage earners were unmarried and living at home. In 1890, the estimated of women wage earners were 3 quarters of women. in addition “10-15% of urban families were headed by single mothers” (297) . For white women at this time domestic work was going down and left in leu of factory labor.

Many would believe such statement to be true, “we live in a men’s world”. This is a similar occurrence in the story of Laura Secord. Mrs. Secord lived at a time were men are the dominate species and they were consider to be “breadwinners” whereas females were expected to be the caregivers. Sarah Anne Curzon is the author of “The Heroine of 1812”, that beautifully relates the bravery of Mrs. Secord and the obstacles she faces as a female living in the 1800`s. This paper will illustrate the prejudice against females in the 1800`s and the discrimination females face in today`s society.

Although some of the worst employment discrimination was eliminated by the Civil Rights Act in 1964, many women continue to undergo unfair and unlawful discrimination in the workplace. Even though women have come a long way, they are still being discriminated against in certain fields of work. High-end jobs, most commonly large companies and medical fields, continue to discriminate against women even though they have the same job qualifications as men.

Although women make up half of the population, they have often been overlooked in times of reform and change. During Reconstruction, women were ignored as the fifteenth amendment granted voting rights to men of all colors, but not to women. During the Progressive Era, women spearheaded many reforms of society, but were not able to reform much of their role in it. During WWII, women were used to support the economy, and then tossed to the side as soldiers returned from war. But throughout all of this, women slowly increased their foothold in industry. Economic needs, societal perceptions of women, and the strength of the women’s rights movement altered the role of women in industry throughout American history.

In 1920, women won the right to vote and they were gradually moving into the male-dominated labor force, but gender roles were not changing much. Due to the World War II draft, many women entered the labor force and even helped run the country. Upon the return of the veterans, many women were forced back into their homes. However, the opportunities for women were broadening and some women began making careers for themselves outside of the home. The 1960’s saw many feminist movements and in 1963 the Equal Pay Act was passed by Congress which enticed more women to get out of the house and into better careers.

Throughout most of history women have had fewer rights and job opportunities than men had. Domesticated life such as wifehood and motherhood were regarded as women's most significant assets. However, in the 20th century, women in many nations won the right to vote and increased their career and job opportunities. The United States of America was a largely agricultural nation until the late 19th century. Workers who were unskilled fared very poorly in the U.S. economy, receiving very little compared to the pay of skilled workers. The Industrial Revolution impacted and changed the economy in ways that could help women earn wages while they work. Pink-collar jobs are the category of workers who perform in the service industry. During this time,

In 1870, nearly two million women and girls worked outside the home. Domestic work was an important source of income. Some girls even dropped out of school to help make money. One in fifteen American homes employed live-in servants that were mostly immigrants or African American. Working from dawn to dusk, these women cooked, cleaned, washed, ironed, and cared for children. A lot of them supported their own families who lived elsewhere. Most of the women that were working were single because then they did not think that married life and careers for women mixed. Many of the single women workers were between the ages of 16 and 24. Employers thought that they would leave when they got married so they rarely gave them supervisory jobs or advanced training. They also paid women an average of $3 to $5 a week, 30 to 60 percent less than men. Self-supporting women were discouraged from entering the fields that would put them in competition with men. There were many educated young women that wanted or needed work became nurses or teachers where they wouldn?t be competing with men.