The Roles of Women During the Progressive Era

When people think in back to the late 19th and early 20th century, many think of men fighting in war, working in harsh factories, or working on a farm. But what about the women at this time? Many people believe men played the most important role in this era, but women were just as equally helpful. If it weren't for what women did then, things would not be the same now. Women played just as important roles as men did.

Without women, men couldn't have done some of the important things they did back in this time. The first major example of this was women volunteering their time to nurse and aid injured soldiers during war, like the Civil War. Women started fundraising to raise money for medical supplies, like door-to-door campaigns and performances of all kinds. But many women wanted to take a more active role in the war effort. Some tried to find their way to front lines of battles so they could care for sick and injured soldiers as soon as they could. When war called for more men, women took their job in the factories. Factory conditions were dangerous and rough. Working women spent up to twelve hours a day performing factory duties. Another role that was definitely underrated during this time, was the role of a housewife. This may not seem like hard work to some, but during this time being a housewife required a lot. Women made and cooked meals for their family. They had to clean and decorate the house. They sewed clothes, blankets, and draperies. They also had to watch over and raise their children, teaching them their manners and more. If their was an elderly person living in the household, the woman was to take care of them too. If their husband was away or ill, farm women had to harvest crops and plow and plant the fields on top of their other duties. Having a family and up-kept household wouldn't be possible if it weren't for women.

They were also plenty of roles women filled that didn't necessarily involve men. Some women became teachers. Women were