Women's Empowerment During The Progressive Era

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The Progressive Era of the early 1900s was a period of economic growth in the United States. Millions flocked to the cities like New York in pursuit of wealth, freedom, and a chance at making a better life for themselves and their families. As a prime focus during the Progressive Era, women challenged social and political barriers, which led to their empowerment and a new female political agenda. Women began to become more prominent in the workplace and by 1920, nearly 25 percent of employed women had office jobs or worked as a telephone operator (Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty! An American History Volume 2, 700). The growth in female employment inspired women to seek a career and independence rather than the confinement of marriage and domesticity. Throughout the first two decades of the 1900s, the rise of female empowerment led to a multitude of changes in legislation concerning women and equality. Such major changes did not occur immediately though. Reformation had to begin locally. Driven by the goal to give political power back to the people and restore harmony to a consumer-driven society, the Progressives resisted the growing division among classes and understood that a new democracy was necessary for the …show more content…

Women challenged a multitude of barriers and achieved many accomplishments with issues such as woman suffrage, employment options, education opportunities, and social services. The beginning of a period of rapid female empowerment challenged many opposing views and altered many laws, bringing in a new era of democracy. While women at this time faced much opposition, the demand for change exceeded the number of doubters. Such reform and independence has inspired further changes in history and will most likely continue to reform as new ideas emerge, driven by the desire for equality and