Title: Women in the Workforce - The Progressive Era and Women's Reform
Headings: The Progressive Era and Women's Reform

Content: Essentially the incident generated unions such as the Women’s Trade Union League “The Triangle fire played a critical role in transforming the ways in which the legal culture attributed causes to industrial accidents, which were a main focus of political debate at the time.” [ 3] In other words the Triangle fire set a precedent for the progressive era as one of the first landmarks in governmental regulation of industry. In particular it meant that working conditions in ‘more than 300 firms” had been changed due to the ILGWU [1]. Although many unions and organization during the time were unfortunately able successfully able to alter the major industry atrocities generated by unregulated business, many industries were able to bend the regulations. For instance industry owners sought after women because they could take advantage of the fact that women had lower wages. [ 4] It could also inhibit the union organization. Additionally women who tried to achieve higher positions in factories met opposition. “ Thus the women who sought to expand their opportunities for employment in the early twentieth century faced double opposition-from hostile male co-workers and from well-meaning but perhaps misguided women reformers.” [ 5]
Conclusively throughout the progressive era many changes occurred. These were largely fueled by unionist organizations such as the ILGWU, and WTUL.