Unit 3, Ch. 9.2: Women in Public Life

Women in the Work Force: Women were finding it harder to devote time to home and families because they couldn’t afford to stay home to do so unless they were middle or upper class. Farming: In the South and Midwest, roles hadn’t changed much only that women were expected to do a bit more than usual. Industry: As higher paying jobs became available in towns and cities, women had new options. They could not join unions, but by the end of the century 1/4th of women had jobs, 25% of which were in manufacturing.

Women in the Work Force: They mostly worked in textiles, held the least skilled positions, and were paid about half of what the men made. Many were single and assumed to be supporting only themselves, while men were assumed to be supporting a family (even if they weren’t). Women started getting office, store, and teaching jobs because they required a high school education (there were more female graduates). Domestic Work: Women without an education turned to domestic work, helping clean houses for other families. Freed slaves usually did this kind of work, as well as cooking,

Women Lead Reform: Dangerous conditions, low wages, and long hours led many female industrial workers to push for reforms. After the tragic fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, their numbers grew and women of higher classes joined as well. Women’s clubs grew, and even though they were initially for reading books or appreciating art, they eventually turned into reform groups.

Women in Higher Education: Many of these women had attended women’s colleges, and even though many women were still expected to fill traditional roles they still sought out higher education to better themselves. Many women avoided marriage and used this education to better themselves and push for reforms.

Women and Reform: Educated and uneducated women working together strengthened reform groups and provided leadership. Women were not allowed to run for office or vote, but they targeting social reforms like education, and food and drug laws. African American women founded the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) and made their mission bettering education for women of color.

After the Seneca Falls Convention, when the 14th and 15th amendments expanded suffrage to everyone but women, Susan B. Anthony decided to found the National Women’s Suffrage Association to push for the right to vote. She was joined by other prominent leaders like Lucy Stone, but they faced constant opposition. The liquor industry feared that they would vote in support of prohibition, the textile industry feared they would restrict or outlaw child labor, and men worried about the changing role of women in society.

A 3 Part strategy for Suffrage: To gain the right to vote, suffragist leaders tried 3 approaches. First, try to convince state legislatures to give women the right to vote, and they achieved victory in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and Idaho. Second, women pursued court cases to test the 14th amendment, which declared states denying males to vote would lose representation. Weren’t women citizens too? The Supreme Court ruled in 1875 that women were citizens, but that this didn’t guarantee them suffrage. Lastly, they would push for a constitutional amendment to grant the right to vote. For 41 years they tried, and every time it was voted down.