Women's Roles During The American Industrial Revolution

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The American Industrial Revolution laid the platform for women to take a step forward in society. It was a time of advancements, and inspiration, with inventors constantly creating inventions to improve ways of living. During the industrialization, there is no doubt women saw more freedom, however although it marked a significant shift in women's roles, granting them more rights and opportunities, this transformation was not wholly positive. While women moved from strict domestic roles, to positions within the industries and factories, this change allowed them a measure of financial independence, by earning their own money, and being able to provide for themselves. Unfortunately, this shift also introduced new challenges, including differences in wages, harsh working conditions, and social tensions between …show more content…

In 1812 Lowell returned from England with the design for a power loom, and investors hired recruiters to employ women to work in the factories. Taylor, Barilla. This is one of the many ways where women were recognized as something more than a household figure A researcher from Umass states, in the year 1842, around 30,000 made the decision to leave farms and venture into the city for work, where they had the chance to earn money while also taking advantage of the cultural offerings. The migration of 30,000 women from farms to cities for work is a significant social shift, and illustrates their move forward towards financial authority and engagement with the newly developed urban culture. Machinery had an irreversible impact on women's lives, and provided them with jobs that allowed them financial independence, and freedom allowing them to feel independent, which eventually became a stepping stone into making other decisions themselves without relying on male figures, paving the way for future advancements in women's