Title: The Lives of Women in the Early 1900s | Synonym
Headings: The Lives of Women in the Early 1900s
The Lives of Women in the Early 1900s
Explore this article
1 Women in the Workforce
2 Women's Suffrage
3 World War I
4 Resistance to Reform

Content: The Lives of Women in the Early 1900s | Synonym
The Lives of Women in the Early 1900s
The early 1900s in the United States was a time of change in many ways, and women, in particular, would soon undergo challenges that would lead to big societal benefits. Until that time, women had been confined to the home in the traditional roles of wife and mother, but their lives began to reflect the growing trend of industrialization and technological developments. As a result of these advancements, women started entering the workforce in larger numbers, expecting better working conditions and wages, seeking higher education and demanding the right to vote. Explore this article
Women in the Workforce
Women's Suffrage
World War I
Resistance to Reform
1 Women in the Workforce
At the start of the 20th century, 18.8 percent of women were employed outside the home, with many working in factories, as retail sales clerks, typists, nurses and schoolteachers. They often worked very long hours, were poorly paid and their daily working environment could be difficult and even unsafe. This led to the establishment of the Women's Trade Union League in 1903, which worked to develop better working conditions for women, and also encouraged women to join the labor movement. 2 Women's Suffrage
The women's suffrage movement was making more inroads in the early 20th century. More than 20 states had already granted partial suffrage to women. This typically meant that voting rights were only granted to certain classes of women, who could only vote on certain matters, such as local issues concerning schools and bonds. They were barred from voting in congressional and presidential campaigns.