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. For instance the number of “female clerical workers, for example, increased from 2.6 percent in 1870 to 37.7 percent in 1910.” 2 Additionally the most shocking statistic is that the amount of women that became telephone operators, “99 percent of them were women by 1918.” [2] The technological advancement of the age induced many more job opportunities during the era.
Another main facet of the changing work environment during the time came in the form of a natural disaster. The infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911. 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. These organizations contributed to the structure of governmental regulation of industry. On a larger scale these changes in the work place during the era also helped spark the women’s suffrage movement occurring in society at the same time. As a lasting monument toward these organizations many of the equal rights conditions set precedents for further humane conditions in our current time.
Women in Work in the Early 2oth Century
Review by: Lynne Withey
Reviews in American History , Vol. 10, No. 1 (Mar., 1982), pp. 109-114
Published by: The Johns Hopkins University Press
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2701805
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory
Law & Social Inquiry , Vol. 20, No. 2 (Spring, 1995), pp. 621-651
Published by: Wiley on behalf of the American Bar Foundation
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/828955
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.
Women, Wobblies, and Workers' Rights: The 1912 Textile Strike in Little Falls, New York ROBERT E. SNYDER New York History , Vol. 60, No. 1 (JANUARY 1979), pp. 29-57 Published by: New York State Historical Association Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/23169970
Maurine Weiner Greenwald, Women, War, and Work: The Impact of World War I on Women Workers in the United States. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1980. 308 pp.
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. For instance the number of “female clerical workers, for example, increased from 2.6 percent in 1870 to 37.7 percent in 1910.” 2 Additionally the most shocking statistic is that the amount of women that became telephone operators, “99 percent of them were women by 1918.” [2] The technological advancement of the age induced many more job opportunities during the era.
Another main facet of the changing work environment during the time came in the form of a natural disaster. The infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911. 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. These organizations contributed to the structure of governmental regulation of industry. On a larger scale these changes in the work place during the era also helped spark the women’s suffrage movement occurring in society at the same time. As a lasting monument toward these organizations many of the equal rights conditions set precedents for further humane conditions in our current time.
Women in Work in the Early 2oth Century
Review by: Lynne Withey
Reviews in American History , Vol. 10, No. 1 (Mar., 1982), pp. 109-114
Published by: The Johns Hopkins University Press
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2701805
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory
Law & Social Inquiry , Vol. 20, No. 2 (Spring, 1995), pp. 621-651
Published by: Wiley on behalf of the American Bar Foundation
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/828955
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.
Women, Wobblies, and Workers' Rights: The 1912 Textile Strike in Little Falls, New York ROBERT E. SNYDER New York History , Vol. 60, No. 1 (JANUARY 1979), pp. 29-57 Published by: New York State Historical Association Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/23169970
Maurine Weiner Greenwald, Women, War, and Work: The Impact of World War I on Women Workers in the United States. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1980. 308 pp.