Women’s Roles and Rights During the Industrial Revolution

The industrial revolution had a significant impact on the position of the American woman, allowing her to participate more actively in the social and political life of the country. Despite the predominant preservation of the domestic nature of women’s lives, they gradually became more independent. Women were ready to do charity work and social work, attend separate courses at universities, and even earn small amounts of money to feed their families. All this allowed them to become more active both in the public and cultural life of the country. The most critical processes of American industrialization that influenced the women’s role were urbanization and the immigration process, changes in US civil rights legislation, and technological progress from the end of the Civil War to the outbreak of World War I. Women immigrants that had no husbands, for instance, were forced to look for ways of feeding their families. This situation served as a push for more rights that would allow women to receive education and get jobs.

19th Century American Women were deprived of the right to vote, could not get a prestigious job, did not occupy important positions, were not allowed to participate in certain types of activities based on prevailing ideas about their inability to perform such roles. In the 40-the 50s of the 19th century, however, American women recognized the need for an organized movement to fight for their rights. Although many external factors helped women achieve their objectives, it was women’s resilience and strength that served as the primary force.