Progressive Era

Long before progressivism started, women were treated differently because of their sex. This situation was not different in any country either. Men discriminated and stereotyped women to do a certain thing. For example, women were only expected to stay home, take care of the chores, take care of the children, and run errands for the family. Men took the advantage to be involved with the different professions, they made up laws for the community, and also voted what they thought was right. Eventually, women strived to gain their rights to have equal opportunity as men, which took a lot of effort and time. If progressivism had not started, women today would still be discriminated for their sex. Women would be doing the same thing as the past and America would not advance in technology or in their lifestyle.

As the progressive era started, professions were to be discovered with sufficient individuals to keep the work going. Only certain type of women were allowed to work, such as women who came forth from colleges. The other women slowly gained right to work, but only as professions that the communities believe that best fits for women. Women typically worked as teachers, social workers, and for the settlement houses (famous one would be the Hull House). Then, as time went on, women were allowed to work in places such as schools, hospitals, and libraries. Women gained experience and later was expected to help in other professions as time went on.

Women’s characteristics changed during the rise of progressivism. Women before the progressivism era were to do as what men want them to do. They worked at home all day long. They were not allowed to go to school for education. They were not involved in activities with other people. During the progressivism era, everything changed into a different environment. Women had fewer children, which spent most of their time at school. Women had the ability to go and get their education themselves. They were involved in club and social activities. More women lived a single life or there was an increase of divorce rates. Women were finally living their life how they wanted to.

Women included in clubs in the era became more involved with reforms. They did what men did and fought for what they thought was right according to their opinions. Women’s reform negotiated with things such as “planting trees; supporting schools, libraries, settlement houses, child labor

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