Civil Rights: Women and Work

• What was the position of women in 1865 regarding employment opportunities?

  Some women had employment opportunities due to the Civil War
• What types of jobs did women take on during the Civil War?

  Women replaced men in agricultural work and worked as nurses
• What was the period following the Civil War known as?

  The Gilded Age
• What happened to employment opportunities for women after the Civil War?

  More unmarried women entered domestic service or worked in factories
• What was a significant issue regarding pay for women in the workforce?

  There was a great pay differentiation between men and women
• What roles did women on the Great Plains have to take on?

  Women had to be flexible and take on roles like teaching, nursing, and farm laboring
• What was the life situation for women working on the Great Plains?

  Life was one of poverty, loneliness, and an unrelenting struggle for survival
• What were some causes of increased opportunities for women by 1918?

  Industrialisation, urbanisation, and increasing educational opportunities
• How did the percentage of unmarried women in the workforce change by 1900?

  It increased from 13% to 17%
• What types of work did many young unmarried women move into by 1900?

  They moved from domestic service into factory work
• How did educated women’s employment change by 1900?

  They moved from factories to office environments
• How many 'white collar' women workers were there by 1900?

  Just under a million
• How many women workers were there by 1920?

  1. 4 million
• What was a common barrier for women in the workforce by 1920?

  Few women were given managerial opportunities
• Did all women benefit equally from the changes in the workforce?

  No, Afro-American, Hispanic, and immigrant workers faced challenges
• What happened to women in agricultural communities during this time?

  They migrated to cities in search of better opportunities
• What was the situation for the poorest married women workers?

  They were still employed in sweatshops
• How did better-off married women benefit from new technology?

  They became liberated by new household technologies
• What was the impact of WWI on female labor?

  WWI led to a demand for female labor and allowed married women to enter the workforce
• What opportunities opened for African American workers during WWI?

  There were large-scale migrations from the south to the north
• What was the prevailing attitude towards women’s roles after WWI?

  Women were expected to return to their homes after the war
• What were the main factors that hindered or promoted women's progress in the workplace by 1918?

  • Industrialisation and urbanisation
  • Increasing educational opportunities
  • Changing lifestyles
  • Legislation against married women working
  • Pay differentiation between men and women
• How did the roles of women in the workforce evolve from 1865 to 1920?

  • 1865: Limited roles, mainly in domestic service and agriculture
  • 1900: Increased participation in factories and offices
  • 1920: Significant growth in workforce numbers, but limited managerial roles
• What was a significant economic change during the 'Roaring' Twenties?

  There was a massive expansion in manufacturing.
• What types of investments increased during the 'Roaring' Twenties?

  Speculating on the stock market and investing in real estate.
• What innovation by Henry Ford contributed to the availability of consumer goods?

  The production line allowed for a vast increase of relatively cheap consumer goods.
• What new job types emerged for women during the 1920s?

  New types of jobs included secretaries, typists, and filing clerks.
• How did the production line impact job opportunities for women during the 'Roaring' Twenties?

  It created more jobs for unmarried women and made life easier for middle-class married women.
• What was the percentage increase in working-class married women in the 1920s?

  There was a 3% increase in the numbers of working-class married women working.
• How many more women entered the workplace during the 1920s?

  Overall, 2 million more women entered the workplace.
• What professions saw a small increase in women entering during the 1920s?

  Women began entering lower-level professions like nursing.
• What discrimination did women face in the workplace during the 1920s?

  Women faced discrimination from men who feared wage reductions.
• How did women's union membership change during the 1920s?

  Membership of unions increased from 200,000 to 800,000 women.
• Who was excluded from trade unions during the 1920s?

  African-Americans and Hispanics were not allowed into trade unions.
• Which group of women began to dominate jobs in domestic service during the 1920s?

  Japanese women began to dominate jobs in domestic service.
• What were the experiences of women in the workforce during the 1920s?

  • Increased job opportunities due to manufacturing expansion
  • 3% increase in working-class married women
  • New jobs as secretaries, typists, and filing clerks
  • 2 million more women entered the workforce
  • Discrimination from men fearing wage reductions
  • Union membership increased from 200,000 to 800,000
  • Exclusion of African-Americans and Hispanics from unions
  • Japanese women dominated domestic service jobs
• What was the unemployment rate for women in 1926 compared to 1933?

  In 1926, 1.8% were unemployed, while by 1933, nearly 25% were unemployed.
• How did the Great Depression affect job opportunities for women?

  Job opportunities for women receded rapidly during the Great Depression.
• What actions did some states take regarding the employment of married women during the Great Depression?

  26 states tried to introduce laws banning the employment of married women.
• What was one of the New Deal programs that benefited women?

  Social Security Act of 1935