Women And The Working Class

Following the end of the Civil War, the closing of the 19th century brought along many new technological and social changes. In the article “The New Technology and Women’s Work” by Sheila Rothman tells of the opportunities and struggles that women faced in the college and job market following the new social and technological advances of this period. Rothman tells of advancing opportunities in College, as well as Department stores and offices positions, while also acknowledging the limitations that still existed with women in social workplaces.

The Progressive Era showed how women advanced politically, socially, and economically. As women progressed in the political landscape through women’s suffrage, earning the right to vote pushed society to view women through a new lens. New societal norms were reached for women and allowed for women to be portrayed closer to equals to men, and higher socioeconomic status were attainable for women.

From the 1880’s to the 1920’s, the Progressive Era was a period in American history where women’s suffrage gained the most momentum. Due to justified Progressive Era reforms and the creation of various organizations during this time, women were able to successfully protect people who were, for example, immigrants, poor, and African Americans belittled by the norms of society. With the full participation of American women, they exercised their full rights as citizens to create public institutions and shape public policy. Redefining the social structure, these middle-class women received support from other women which essentially led to changes of the rights of and treatment of American women in society. Thwarted by a male-dominated society, pleas for better treatment and equal rights made by women in the forms of protests, conventions, parades, and speeches, were often seen as foolish and meaningless. However, women’s unrelenting efforts combined with the atmosphere of reform resulted in positive outcomes such as the right to vote, the creation of new educational opportunities, and the introduction of better working conditions for women, which drastically impacted the way women apply themselves in society today.

“We need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead.” This quote was said by Beyoncé, a famous female singer who embraces the woman she is. Even though gender inequality is present for women in both societies, there are many differences between the expectations of females in the 1930’s to females today.

Identification is a process where one or more social identities become part of someone’s personal identity. There are different identities that come in the following categories:-

The Progressive Era was a time period when the United States began to advance in different areas like industrialization, urbanization, colonization, and government. It occurred throughout the years ranging from the 1890s to the 1920s. As industrialization increased, more advancement in social activism and political reform took place as well. Although multiple changes occurred, the societal area that underwent the most change and received the most attention was the social status and role of women. Before the Progressive Era began, women were known to only work in their homes. Nevertheless, with the support of strong women reformers, women eventually attained the right to vote and changed their social status as a whole.

During the Progressive era women played a big role in striving for better rights regarding politics and social conditions. It was a time when people started taking matters into their own hands. Women were not only fighting for themselves but for men, immigrants, and children as well. The roles of women regarding politics and social reforms shaped American and helped reform it.

Between Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson’s administration, and the doughboys heading into war, women of the progressive era were footnoted. In the progressive era women wanted to be seen as full citizens of the United States and with the passage of the 19th amendment in the Constitution, it gave women the right to vote. Some historians refer to the 30 years between 1890 and 1920 as the women’s era, because it was within that time that women started to have economic and political opportunities. Women were aided by legal changes such as the right to make contracts and wills, control their wages, and own property. By 1900 around five million women worked in domestic service and light manufacturing.

Class, the system of ordering a society in which people are divided into sets based on perceived social or economic status. An economical structure where individuals are grouped in lower, middle and upper class. A social structure powered by gender roles, defining masculinity, manliness and femininity. Are we truly living the American Dream? Throughout this essay we will discuss the condition of the working class, women’s right to vote, taking a look at the rise of the Progressive Era and how it changed relationships between big businesses, government, and the working class.

Undeniably, the outlook of women in the workforce changed following the advent of World War II. Traditionally, the role of caretaker of the house and home was assigned to the woman. Society and institutions facilitated, accepted and supported this way of thinking and way of life. Working outside the home was considered "a man's job". A woman expressing an interest in being anything other than a homemaker and wife was frowned upon. Accepted was the notion that men are better laborers and a woman could not perform at the same level as a man and therefore are undesirable candidates for work in the office or in factories. When America entered in the Second World War, the role of women as primarily stewards of the home was forever changed. As men answered the call of duty, they left behind a void not only in the hearts of their loved ones but also in the workplace. During this time not only were vacancies found in the work that once employees turned soldiers left behind but also we witnessed an increase of labor need for specific industries, such as those that supported the wartime efforts. Women entered the workforce in droves, filling the much needed void in the offices and the factories. Women become the soldiers on the home front and once the war was over, there was no erasing the progress women made in proving capable and ready to hold gainful employment outside the home. This paper addresses women in the workforce,

Now in this precise year and day, you may view women as a strong and powerful person but was it always like that? In the 1920s, was the year women finally got the right to vote after all the campaigns made and reforms performed. In all some were still housewives while some felt the need to work in order to provide money for the family or themselves. Not all were married and had a husband to provide for them. Many obstacles had to be faced in order to be where we are today. Females faced inequality with men, but that did not stop them from accomplishing what they desired. Jobs and education in the 1920s were limited to women.

Modernism is the term of deviating from the norm. In the early 1900s, modernism influenced women’s role in society by providing more opportunities, jobs, and role models for girls today, in society.

One main difference is “women are not a minority like American blacks, or the Jews; there are as many women as men on the earth” (Beauvoir, 7) Bebel draw a parallel “between women and the proletariat would be the best founded: proletarians are not a numerical minority either and yet they have never formed a separate group.” (Beauvoir, 8) Another difference is “The proletariat could plan to massacre the whole ruling class, a fanatic Jew or black could dream of seizing the secret of the atomic bomb and turning all of humanity entirely Jewish or entirely black; but a woman could not even dream of exterminating males.” (Beauvoir, 9)

A women's role has changed tremendously and is making its greatest impact in our society today. Many years ago, women's contribution to society was limited and controlled by men. Women are standing tall and are playing a major role in many important areas. Women's role has changed at an accelerating rate and have part in areas such as Politics, Professional Training Jobs, Medicine,Business and Law. Formerly they were not part of any political matter, but they have advanced in many aspects. For example, women have attained power and have been growing in political office.

Who are you? Who am I? These are questions that we all ponder at some point or another in our lives. As human beings we are seemingly inundated with the desire to classify and categorise. We are constantly defining and analysing the differences that we observe in the world, it seems only natural that we would apply this method of classification to our position within our society. More specifically, we want to understand our social identities and this can be achieved by acknowledging which groups we identify most with.