Women Social and Economic Flashcards
How did female employment change from 1870 to 1900? What rise in employment was seen in white collar work up to 1920s?
1870 13% of unmarried women in work, 1900 17% of women in work. Rise of clerical work in 1890s where white women earned $7 an hour, by 1900 950,000 female teachers, secretaries, and clerks. Between 1900-1920 2.6-8.6 million in employment, by 1920 women half of typewriters but didn’t deal with finance. Rise of trade unions, in 1903 Women’s Trade Union League set under Rose Schniederman, Mary Anderson, and Agnes Nestor.
What improvement was seen in graduation during Gilded Age and how were women limited economically?
By 1900 half of women graduated and half of graduates delayed marriage to enhance employment opportunity. Limits: men still managers, women still had marriage as goal and worked within separate spheres, Hispanic and AA women entered factories earning $5 for 70 hour weeks and many women with children exploited, serving in tenement housing. By 1910 <2% of women in unions as they were seen as competitors against men. Women still limited in careers such as medicine and law. Immigrants such as Italians and Irish Roman Catholic so women expected to raise large families.
What was social change in family size and education between 1861-1920?
In 1861 the average family had five children. This fell to three by 1920 as increased prosperity inspired women to care for their children better. In 1870 more boys than girls were in school but by 1920 this was more equal. 2/3 of white children of both sexes graduated from high school. African American girls saw graduation rise from 10% in 1870 to 30% by 1914. Women teachers rose from 60-86%. In 1920 only 30% of degrees went to women even if graduation doubled.
What were social and economic effects of changes in 20s?
Socially, women became more confident in participating in public campaigns thanks to education. Led to a rise in women’s clubs and female writers. However, women were still limited from being managers and were held back from professions such as medicine and law.
What was employment for WWI?
WWI saw a demand for engineering, textiles and food processing products. 3 million more women employed than in 1865 but women didn’t enter factories for first time. More worked in heavy industry and transport. New farmers became known as farmerettes. 30,000 worked for armed forces but was an extension of domestic service – nursing and laundry. Tram/train conductors were exaggerated. 20,000 women travelled overseas as members of YMCA, Red Cross, Salvation Army, but no female doctors and 358 killed and more injured.
Did WWI see change or continuity?
Higher employment and increased female confidence, women associated with national cause, but work continued to be in traditional roles and many women forced to return jobs to men after war. Little attempt to provide childcare facilities or help women who faced dual responsibilities at work and home.
What was the flapper culture?
In 1920s the flapper culture developed with rise of jazz, fast cars, cinema, short skirts, etc during prohibition. Women wore shorter skirts to knee length, cut their hair short, smoked, flirted more with their sexuality, and were more daring. They went against Victorian norms.
Why did the flapper era do little for women socially?
This would have been difficult for women in conservative rural America, alongside the fact that in areas of the US where farm prices were falling, money was scarce for makeup, fashion, and nightclubs. In urban centres, women were more sexualised. Had to be alluring before marriage and then settle down – precedent for suburban times.
What was the sexual issue with the flapper era?
Issue with sexualisation when birth control wasn’t available. One million illegal abortions a year before 1973. Diaphragm was introduced in 1917 in a clinic ran by Margaret Sanger, NY. Impractical for poor women and Sanger was arrested for obscenity. In 1936 birth control import was legalised. Most doctors promoted abstinence and the birth control pill wasn’t available until the 50s.
How did employment change from 20s to 30s?
In 1920s 12% of married women who worked did so to support their families, largely in textiles or domestics and predominately AAs or immigrants. Bulk of female labour unmarried, with most single women in 1930 going into clerical work, becoming a saleswoman, secretary, waitress, or hairdresser. Educated became teachers and nurses. Considerable continuity despite surface changes. Expectation women would run home.
What did ND do for women?
Pressure rose as women were seen to ‘steal’ jobs from men. Women preferred in employment as they could be paid less. In 1930s female employment rose from 11.7% to 15.2%. In other areas married women were banned from taking jobs in publicly ran institutions. AA women hit hard as their wages declined significantly. ND agencies tried to make pay more equal but unions put male interest first.
Who was Ellen Woodward?
Ellen Woodward appointed by ER who had Harry Hopkins set women’s division within Federal Emergency Relief Administration. Ellen Woodward set Works Progress Administration in 1935 and in 1936 employed 460,000.
How did ER help women? What acts improved female employment and how did ND fail women?
ER repealed Married Persons Clause of Economy Act in 1937 arguing women needed to make ends meet. In November 1933 held White House Conference on Emergency Needs of Women. Fair Labour Relations Act pushed 800,000 women to unions and Fair Labour Standards Act set max hours and min wages. Excluded retail clerks and domestics. 7% of Civilian Works Administration jobs for women and 25% of National Recovery Administration jobs had min wage for women < men. By 1939 female teachers earned 20% less than men.
How did WWII encourage employment?
In WWII more men participated in war. 100,000 women served in army in Women’s Army Corps, Navy, and Women’s Air Force. Many women still worked in typing, sewing, cooking, and nursing though. Propaganda promoted female employment but it was clear this employment was temporary.
What employment did women gain from WWII? What were limits?
. In 1944 the average woman earned $31.21 a week compared to men who made $54.65 a week. More women worked as taxi drivers, heavy industry workers, drivers and workers in lumber/steel etc. 6 million entered workforce and made 1/3 of employment. Small numbers of women worked in training such as pilots.
