Women in Public Life

1. Women in Public Life OBJECTIVES: Trace women’s growing presence in the turn-of-the-century workforce. Summarize women’s leadership in reform movements and the effort to achieve woman suffrage

2. Women in the Work Force • The cult of domesticity began to wear off during the Industrial Revolution • Many African American and immigrant women began to work • In 1870, roughly 70% of female jobs were as servants • By 1900, women were working in factories, laundries and canneries. • As business expanded, women began to take “white collar” jobs • Teaching, stenographers, bookkeepers, typists etc.

3. Women Leadership in Reform • Women began to attend college in the late 19th century • Schools like Harvard and Columbia who did not allow women established colleges for women • NACW – National Association of Colored Women • Managed nurseries, reading rooms and kindergartens • Allowed African American women to have an impactful role in society

4. Right to vote • Women fought for suffrage • Women fought for suffrage in 3 different approaches • 1. State level (Wyoming 1869) • 2. Pursued court cases to test 14th Amendment • 3. Push for a national amendment • Susan B. Anthony- was a leader in the women’s suffrage movement • “Would sooner cut off my right hand than ask the ballot for black man and not for women.” • - S.B.A. • Women formed the NAWSA, National American Woman Suffrage Association • Through their efforts, they did not achieve suffrage but brought the issue to the public. • The 19th Amendment was finally passed in 1919.

5. TERMS • NACW • Suffrage • Susan B. Anthony • NAWSA OBJECTIVES: • Trace women’s growing presence in the turn-of-the-century workforce. • Summarize women’s leadership in reform movements and the effort to achieve woman suffrage