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

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



Working women during the early 20th century experienced a new era of both industry, and government. As the century began the progressive era was born. Changes in this time were brought about by political, social, and governmental reform. Women found prosperity in the work place through union institutions. Among these institutions the main contributions came from organizations such as The Women’s Trade Union League of New York (WTUL), and the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU). These Unions were created both by the workers themselves as well as the government institutions that supported them. “ The role of women reformers who were hired by the government agencies and charged with overseeing in certain industries became abundant.” [ 2]
This was a time when “economic expansion produced millions of new jobs and brought an unprecedented array of goods within reach of American consumers.” 1 For women this was truly one of the first times that work outside of traditional stereotypical roles was established. The amount of women in the workforce sharply rose as well as the type of work.