The Rise of Women in the Workforce

Sarah Fox

RCL 137
Professor Babcock
November 4th, 2018
 In the year 1900, 6% of married women worked outside of the home (PBS). By 1998,

that number had risen to 61% and continued to climb in the following years (PBS). What

happened in the years between was a radical cultural and legal shift that changed social and

ideological commonplaces in the country. Throughout the decades, more and more women

started building careers outside of the home and working jobs that were previously seen as

masculine. While a significant shift took place to get to where we are today, women still don’t

have complete equality in the workplace. Women continue to push for increased equality through

protests and marches, signifying that this development is far from over. The shift of women

entering the workforce throughout the 20th century created lasting change on American culture

and laws while reshaping the idea of what it means to be a woman.

At the turn of the 20th century, the ideology surrounding women’s role in the workforce

was radically different than it is today. Gender roles were prominent and widely accepted in

society. It was believed that the man’s duty was to work and provide for the family financially,

while it was the woman’s duty to take care of the children and household. This idea of a typical

family structure was rarely challenged, and those women who did challenge it were frowned

upon. Of the small percentage of women that worked in manufacturing, 75% of them made

clothing, cloth, food, or tobacco products (U.S. Department of Labor). These tasks were widely

seen as “women’s work” and women were restricted from masculine jobs. It was clear that

women had their place in society, and very few of them strayed from this path that was set for

them since birth.

The beginning of the shift began when the United States joined the First World War in

1917. While their husbands were away fighting, women contributed to the war effort at home

and overseas. 23,822 women were nurses for the Red Cross, most of whom were on active duty
(Remy). Women also joined organizations to aid the war effort, such as the group “Victory

Girls”, which called themselves a united war work campaign (Women in World War I).

Participating in these organizations helped women gain respect from their fellow citizens and be

taken seriously as contributing members of society. Another catalyst in WWI was that civilian

women following the armies wore uniforms, which made them appear more professional and

they were able to claim responsibility for their contributions (Women in World War I). During

this trying time for the country, it was admirable and patriotic for women to contribute to the war

effort by having jobs outside of the home.

When the war ended and the roaring 20s began, women had gained more opportunities in

the workplace because of their contributions to the war effort. In the year 1920, women made up

21% of the workforce (U.S. Department of Labor). With more women starting to work, they also

became a greater proportion of the consumers. As a result, department stores became a hot new

commodity for women and they needed employees to sell their products. Women were deemed

well suited for this position because it was relatively safe and not labor intensive (LaMarco).

During the 20s, young women started wearing more makeup and fashionable clothing as they

took advantage of their increased freedom. Because of these cultural changes, the cosmetic and

fashion industries grew and created many jobs for women (LaMarco). The roaring 20s was a

time when young women were beginning to value their individuality and get a sense of freedom

in society. It wasn’t as frowned upon for women to choose to work outside of the home in

addition to their duties as a wife and a mother.

The Great Depression took hold of the country in the 1930s, which devastated the

American labor force. However, the depression did not greatly affect the percentage of women

working, as most worked in stable jobs as schoolteachers or nurses (Baughman). They weren’t
unscathed by the depression though, as their pay greatly dropped and they made approximately

half of the salary of their male counterparts (Baughman). Many companies were willing to hire

women at a reduced wage to cut labor costs during the depression, which further strengthened

the ideology that women workers were less valuable. In some cases, the depression actually

aided women in becoming a part of the labor force because they had to work to make ends meet

for their family (Remy). However, many women were not permitted to have jobs during the

depression because 26 states legally prohibited employing married women (Remy). It was clear

during this time that while women were becoming more integrated into the workforce, they were

still viewed as less valuable and capable than men.

When the Second World War began in 1939, the United States required full participation

from every citizen to protect its allies and bring peace to the world once again. To do this, the

majority of men had to go fight overseas, which left the masculine jobs available. Women had to

step up to take these jobs to keep the country afloat while the men were off fighting. It was even

encouraged for women to take jobs in manufacturing war materials, as seen in the famous Rosie

the Riveter poster. In addition to managing their households while their husbands were away,

many women worked in defense plants and volunteered in organizations to contribute to the war.

Many women, nearly 350,000, served in the war both at home and overseas (The National WWII

Museum). Women were fairly involved in contributing to the war directly as radio operators,

plane repairmen, non-combat military pilots, and truck drivers. Those who worked as Women

Airforce Service Pilots were rarely credited with the great contribution they added to the war

effort. They ferried planes cross country, repaired aircraft, and even flew planes as practice

targets for anti-aircraft weaponry. It was in doing these previously masculine jobs that earned

women even more credibility in the workforce. When the war was over, millions of women were
pushed out of their jobs by the men who were returning home from fighting (Khan Academy).

There was also a decrease in demand for war materials, which put even more women out of jobs.

While there was a need for them during wartime, it seemed that the country was not ready for the

social change to bring about women’s equality in the workforce just yet.

In the 1950s, society was focused on rebuilding a prosperous and peaceful society after

the devastation of the Great Depression and WWII (Khan Academy). This meant that many

wanted to return to the status quo of the socially enforced gender roles that they were used to.

Women were still expected to primarily be wives and mothers, yet they remained a significant

portion of the postwar workforce (Khan Academy). Even though women were being pressured to

go back to their role as housewives after the war, one in three women still worked in 1950 (U.S.

Bureau of Labor Statistics). However, women were still seen as less valuable workers and

received lower wages than men. Married women’s incomes were not seen as vital to the

household, but instead were believed to be for extra spending money. This belief justified the

employers in paying women less, even though many women still were significantly contributing

to the family income. Fears from the Cold War also took hold in the 1950s and solidified

traditional gender roles. The term “nuclear family” was used to encourage maintaining stable

families as a way to create a strong and healthy society (Khan Academy). The woman’s job, in

this view, was to keep the family intact by staying home to support her husband and children.

This ideology even became a part of TV shows like Father Knows Best and I Love Lucy (Khan

Academy). These shows encouraged the view that women should primarily be wives and

mothers. In I Love Lucy, Lucy finds herself in a disastrous situation whenever she attempts to

find a job or an interest outside of the home. The 1950s were a step backward for women’s
integration into the workforce, but some women continued to pursue careers despite society’s

expectations.

During the 1960s, women were inspired by the civil rights movement sweeping the

nation and began to fight once again for their own rights (Khan Academy). By 1960, 30% of

married women worked, which was a huge change from the 6% in 1900 (PBS). More women

were working, yet they still made 60% of a man’s salary (Walsh). Equal Pay legislation was

passed in 1963; however, it did not apply to women working low pay jobs that were classified as

female (Walsh). Also in 1963, Betty Friedan published The Feminine Mystique, in which she

shared her discontent with the belief that it is a woman’s duty to marry and have children. The

book raised an awareness in many women that the life of a housewife was unfulfilling to them

and encouraged them to pursue careers. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited gender

discrimination in the workplace, which marked progress for workplace equality (Khan

Academy). The progress that women had been fighting for was now legal and this encouraged

women to keep fighting because they were seeing results. Now that more women worked and

gender discrimination was illegal, the priority was to receive equal pay and treatment in the

workplace.

The 1970s were a period when women were more outspoken and demanded equal rights

through protests. In 1970, about 43% of working age women had jobs (Toossi); additionally,

they made roughly 60% of a man’s salary (U.S. Census Bureau). In 1975, TIME magazine

awarded its “Man of the Year” to “American Women” after writing an article that commented on

the new wave of women’s social liberation, “They may be cops, judges, military officers,

telephone linemen, cab drivers, pipefitters, editors, business executives -- or mothers and

housewives, but not quite the same subordinate creatures they were before” (Bergeron). Women
were no longer helpless housewives, but instead they walked into a business office or a

construction site with their chins held high. In addition to the social reforms, there were legal

reforms during the 70s as well. Women successfully gained protection from discrimination

against pregnant women in the workplace, as seen in the 1979 Pregnancy Discrimination Act

(Khan Academy). Women were also allowed to apply for jobs with higher wages, which

previously were reserved for men only (Seamone). They could continue working while pregnant

and even attend professional school, both of which led to an increased percentage of women in

the workforce (Seamone).

In the following decades up until present day, women made steady progress towards

workplace equality. A milestone for women entering male-dominated fields was the appointment

of Sandra Day O'Connor to become the first female supreme court justice in 1981 (CNBC). This

was a sign that women were truly starting to make their voices heard in important roles such as

on the supreme court. Hillary Clinton became an icon for women in politics as she served as First

Lady, Secretary of State, and as a senator before she became the democratic party nominee in

2016 (Hillary Clinton). She lost the election in 2016, so there has never been a female president

of the United States but her extensive political career marks significant progress for women in

politics. Women became prominent in positions of authority as well as in politics. Between 1972

and 2002, the percentage of management jobs held by women increased from 20 to 46 percent

(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Women gained better jobs during this time period and also

received better pay as well, increasing from 63% of men’s wages in 1979 to 78% in 2002 (U.S.

Bureau of Labor Statistics). The working woman became a very prominent symbol in pop

culture during the 1980s and 1990s. Strong working women icons made their way into TV shows

like 9 to 5 and Working Girl, which portray several competent women in the workforce (Covert).
Working women became normalized during 1980s and 1990s due to more women entering male-

dominated fields such as politics and an increased focus on working women in entertainment.

Today, while women have taken massive leaps in terms of equality, they still do not have

complete equality in the workplace. Women continue to protest the wage gap, which hovers in

the high 70s as a percentage of men’s wages. A change in priorities has taken place over the

years as well. Women in the early 1900s protested for their right to work and to not be

considered back up labor for a decreased wage. Today, women focus much more on ending

sexual harassment in the workplace. The #metoo movement has raised awareness of the harsh

reality that many women experience just trying to earn a living. The movement gained popularity

on social media and encouraged women to share their #metoo stories if they had been sexually

harassed at work. It created shock as many men realized that their spouses, sisters, and daughters

faced harassment in their everyday lives. It has given many women support to share the stories of

sexual harassment and abuse that they have often endured in silence. The #metoo movement

aims to bring focus to a problem that needs to be changed in our society so that we can have true

gender equality in the workplace. Women’s marches and protests for equality have started

popping up all over the country, just like they had in the past when women were demanding their

right to work. There are still many ways that equality in the American workplace can be

improved and women will not stop pushing for change until those improvements take hold.

The progress made between 1900 and the early 2000s is remarkable and increased the

independence and quality of life for women throughout the country. Women no longer need to

rely on their husband for income, thus they can choose their own future more freely. The

ideology surrounding women has certainly changed over the years as well. In 1900, women were

commonly thought of as less important or valuable than men. Gender roles were prevalent and
mostly unquestioned. Women had their place taking care of the household and mostly accepted

it, even if they wished to pursue a career. Today, women no longer accept being submissive in

society. A woman’s place is wherever she wishes to be. Women Are CEOs, entrepreneurs,

engineers, or stay at home moms if they choose. The paradigm shift that took place in the last

century completely changed American society, in and out of the workplace. American culture is

now more accepting that every person has value and worth, which is more than could be said a

century ago. However, women continue to protest the wage gap and sexual harassment, while

pushing for equality in male-dominated fields. If one thing is for sure, women will not stop

persevering until equality is obtained.

 Works Cited

Bergeron, Ryan. “'The Seventies': Feminism Makes Waves.” CNN, Cable News Network, 17
Aug. 2015, www.cnn.com/2015/07/22/living/the-seventies-feminism-womens-
lib/index.html.

“Changes in Women's Labor Force Participation in the 20th Century.” U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 16 Feb. 2000,
www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2000/feb/wk3/art03.htm.

Covert, Bryce. “The Best Era for Working Women Was 20 Years Ago.” The New York Times,
The New York Times, 2 Sept. 2017,
www.nytimes.com/2017/09/02/opinion/sunday/working-women-decline-1990s.html.

“Hillary Clinton.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 9 July 2018,

www.biography.com/people/hillary-clinton-9251306.

“History At a Glance: Women in World War II.” The National WWII Museum ,
www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-resources/research-
starters/women-wwii.

LaMarco, Nicole. “Jobs for Women in the 1920s.” Bizfluent, 27 Oct. 2018, bizfluent.com/info-
7747610-jobs-women-1920s.html.

“Liberation Movements of the 1970s.” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, 2018,

www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/postwarera/1970s-america/a/liberation-
movements-1970s.

“Our History.” WB - Our History (An Overview 1920 - 2012),

www.dol.gov/wb/info_about_wb/interwb.htm.

Remy, Corry. “Employment of Women in the 1930s – The Thirties – Medium.” Medium, The
Thirties, 19 Nov. 2015, medium.com/the-thirties/employment-of-women-in-the-1930s-
5998fd255f5.

“Sandra Day O'Connor, the First Woman on the Supreme Court, Withdraws from Public Life.”
CNBC, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2018, www.cnbc.com/2018/10/22/sandra-day-oconnor-withdraws-
from-public-life.html.

Seamone, Emily. “Women and Work in the 1970s.” Women, Work, and Life, 12 Aug. 2014,
www.womenworklife.com/2014/07/30/work-life-really-like-women-1970s/.

“Second-Wave Feminism.” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, 2018,

www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/postwarera/1960s-america/a/second-wave-
feminism.
Toossi, Mitra. “Women In The Workforce Before, During, And After The Great Recession.”
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, 2017, www.bls.gov/spotlight/2017/women-in-
the-workforce-before-during-and-after-the-great-recession/pdf/women-in-the-workforce-
before-during-and-after-the-great-recession.pdf.

Walsh, Kenneth. “The 1960s: A Decade of Change for Women.” U.S. News & World Report,
U.S. News & World Report, 2010, www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/03/12/the-1960s-
a-decade-of-change-for-women.

“Women at Work.” Monthly Labor Review, US Bureau of Labor Statistics , 2003,

www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2003/10/ressum3.pdf.

“Women in the 1950s.” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, 2018,

www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/postwarera/1950s-america/a/women-in-the-
1950s.

“Women in the Workforce.” U.S. Census Bureau, 2007,

www.census.gov/newsroom/pdf/women_workforce_slides.pdf.

“Women in World War I.” National Museum of American History, 2015,

americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object-groups/women-in-wwi.

“Working Women in the 1930s.” Edited by Judith S. Baughman, U.S. History in Context, Gale,
2011,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=UHIC&u=sand55832&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CCX34683
01237&asid=1541394000000~57b90b46.

“Working Women.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/fmc/book/2work8.htm.

“World War I and the American Red Cross.” The American Red Cross,
www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/National/history-wwi.pdf.