Women Revision:
Cult of domesticity = hallowed view of the home and the apparent angelic nature of women
and their supposed natural affinity for domesticity.
Separate spheres = the traditional separate role and duties of men and women.
The Gilded Age:
The growth of industrialisation and improved transport during this period meant that
more work was done outside the family home.
The progress of women’s rights was also subject to economic fluctuations, for
example, the first major temperance movement coincided with an economic slump.
In the Gilded Age, some working-class women needed to work to provide for their
families.
Immigrant women differed from the supposed ideal view of women.
Between 1870-1900, the presence of women in the workforce trebled to 17%.
The creation of the typewriter and the expansion of the telephone created a women
dominated sphere of work.
Secretarial works was seen as more respectable and was pre-marriage work for
white middle-class women.
Department stores opened up employment for women – stereotype of women being
sociable.
Rise in women going into teaching and nursing – nurturing/maternal stereotype.
Most women were expected to give up work after “achieving the goal of marriage”.
The 1862 Homestead Act brought a new experience that differed geographically.
No laws existed to protect women and provide rights in the workplace.
Seeing African Americans gain legal rights made women feel they deserved the
same.
Area of Life: Evidence of Improvement: Evidence of Lack of Change:
1900 = 8.6 million employed Plant paid women $1.56 a
women; 1880 = 2.6 million week and paid men $7-10.
employed women. Medicine a law difficult to
Work and Half of women graduates access.
Employment were delaying marriage in Sex discrimination pervaded
pursuit of a career. the clerical sector.
By 1920, half of clerical Women not given the
workers were women (4% in responsibility of handling
1880) money.
Women’s social clubs Men feared women stealing
developed and expanded. their jobs and risked pay
Cycling became a popular decreases.
Society activity and rejected the idea Education seen as a stepping
that women shouldn’t sweat. stone to being a housewife.
Department stores a social The home was idealised for
club for the affluent. women as “their sphere”.
Women dominated the Unions (e.g. AFL) rejected
Telephone Operator’s women.
Department of the No laws protected rights in
, Union Rights International Brotherhood of the workplace.
Electrical Workers. Governments still anti-union.
Women union membership Fewer than 2% of working
grew in the 1910s. women belonged to trade
WTUL founded 1903. unions.
By 1900, half of all high Women’s colleges reinforced
school graduates were prevailing concepts of
women. femininity.
Education 1880 = 30% colleges admit Many regarded a good
women. education as merely a stage
1900 = 71% colleges admit in preparing for marriage
women. and motherhood.
Divorce rate in 1880 was 1 in Women were still expected
20 and was 1 in 12 by 1900. to look after the children
Family Many began to believe that independently.
women should be Many women still remained
economically dependent committed to fulfilling the
within and outside marriage. supportive role in the family.
Organisation: Campaign: Evidence of Success: Evidence of Failure:
-Addams established the -By 1895, 50 similar -Doesn’t advocate
Hull House in Chicago 1889 settlement houses could against separate spheres
Jane Addams -A social centre to support be found across the could -Didn’t bridge the gap
and Hull House the settlement of newly be found across the between immigrants and
arrived immigrants country. born Americans
-Break language barrier -Allowed educated -Not pushing a political
and find jobs. women to work in reform voice
-The WCTU undertook -Successfully closed saloon -Illinois failed petition
Women’s active protest such as their and liquor outlet in Ohio -Continuation of
Christian participation in the after thousands of women separate spheres
Temperance Women’s Crusade of 1873. took to the streets. -Centrality of family and
Union -Believed drunkenness was -7000 branches by 1900 home.
a threat. and 150,000 members
-Established in 1899 -NCL under Florence -Limited to white
National -Improvement in wages for Kelley had a huge impact working-class women.
Consumers clerks -Meat Inspection Act 1904 -Achievements more
League -Recognition of women’s -Muller v. Oregon 1908 post-1900
rights in work
National -Focus was acquisition of -50,000 members 1915 -Indicative of fragmented
Association of the vote and anti-lynching -300,000 members 1918 nature of women’s
Coloured (Ida B. Wells) -Overtly political movement.
Women -1896
In 1871/1872 Susan B. Anthony (WCTU) was fined after attempting to vote.
8 states gave women the right to vote by 1890.
1875 Virginia Minor sued Missouri and SCOTUS ruled individual states could decide
on women’s voting rights.
Cult of domesticity = hallowed view of the home and the apparent angelic nature of women
and their supposed natural affinity for domesticity.
Separate spheres = the traditional separate role and duties of men and women.
The Gilded Age:
The growth of industrialisation and improved transport during this period meant that
more work was done outside the family home.
The progress of women’s rights was also subject to economic fluctuations, for
example, the first major temperance movement coincided with an economic slump.
In the Gilded Age, some working-class women needed to work to provide for their
families.
Immigrant women differed from the supposed ideal view of women.
Between 1870-1900, the presence of women in the workforce trebled to 17%.
The creation of the typewriter and the expansion of the telephone created a women
dominated sphere of work.
Secretarial works was seen as more respectable and was pre-marriage work for
white middle-class women.
Department stores opened up employment for women – stereotype of women being
sociable.
Rise in women going into teaching and nursing – nurturing/maternal stereotype.
Most women were expected to give up work after “achieving the goal of marriage”.
The 1862 Homestead Act brought a new experience that differed geographically.
No laws existed to protect women and provide rights in the workplace.
Seeing African Americans gain legal rights made women feel they deserved the
same.
Area of Life: Evidence of Improvement: Evidence of Lack of Change:
1900 = 8.6 million employed Plant paid women $1.56 a
women; 1880 = 2.6 million week and paid men $7-10.
employed women. Medicine a law difficult to
Work and Half of women graduates access.
Employment were delaying marriage in Sex discrimination pervaded
pursuit of a career. the clerical sector.
By 1920, half of clerical Women not given the
workers were women (4% in responsibility of handling
1880) money.
Women’s social clubs Men feared women stealing
developed and expanded. their jobs and risked pay
Cycling became a popular decreases.
Society activity and rejected the idea Education seen as a stepping
that women shouldn’t sweat. stone to being a housewife.
Department stores a social The home was idealised for
club for the affluent. women as “their sphere”.
Women dominated the Unions (e.g. AFL) rejected
Telephone Operator’s women.
Department of the No laws protected rights in
, Union Rights International Brotherhood of the workplace.
Electrical Workers. Governments still anti-union.
Women union membership Fewer than 2% of working
grew in the 1910s. women belonged to trade
WTUL founded 1903. unions.
By 1900, half of all high Women’s colleges reinforced
school graduates were prevailing concepts of
women. femininity.
Education 1880 = 30% colleges admit Many regarded a good
women. education as merely a stage
1900 = 71% colleges admit in preparing for marriage
women. and motherhood.
Divorce rate in 1880 was 1 in Women were still expected
20 and was 1 in 12 by 1900. to look after the children
Family Many began to believe that independently.
women should be Many women still remained
economically dependent committed to fulfilling the
within and outside marriage. supportive role in the family.
Organisation: Campaign: Evidence of Success: Evidence of Failure:
-Addams established the -By 1895, 50 similar -Doesn’t advocate
Hull House in Chicago 1889 settlement houses could against separate spheres
Jane Addams -A social centre to support be found across the could -Didn’t bridge the gap
and Hull House the settlement of newly be found across the between immigrants and
arrived immigrants country. born Americans
-Break language barrier -Allowed educated -Not pushing a political
and find jobs. women to work in reform voice
-The WCTU undertook -Successfully closed saloon -Illinois failed petition
Women’s active protest such as their and liquor outlet in Ohio -Continuation of
Christian participation in the after thousands of women separate spheres
Temperance Women’s Crusade of 1873. took to the streets. -Centrality of family and
Union -Believed drunkenness was -7000 branches by 1900 home.
a threat. and 150,000 members
-Established in 1899 -NCL under Florence -Limited to white
National -Improvement in wages for Kelley had a huge impact working-class women.
Consumers clerks -Meat Inspection Act 1904 -Achievements more
League -Recognition of women’s -Muller v. Oregon 1908 post-1900
rights in work
National -Focus was acquisition of -50,000 members 1915 -Indicative of fragmented
Association of the vote and anti-lynching -300,000 members 1918 nature of women’s
Coloured (Ida B. Wells) -Overtly political movement.
Women -1896
In 1871/1872 Susan B. Anthony (WCTU) was fined after attempting to vote.
8 states gave women the right to vote by 1890.
1875 Virginia Minor sued Missouri and SCOTUS ruled individual states could decide
on women’s voting rights.
