In the early 20th century, most women in the United States did not work outside the home, and those who did were primarily young and unmarried. In that era, just 20 percent of all women were “gainful workers,” as the Census Bureau then categorized labor force participation outside the home, and only 5 percent of those married were categorized as such. Of course, these statistics somewhat understate the contributions of married women to the economy beyond housekeeping and childrearing, since women’s work in the home often included work in family businesses and the home production of goods, such as agricultural products, for sale. Also, the aggregate statistics obscure the differential experience of women by race. African American women were about twice as likely to participate in the labor force as were white women at the time, largely because they were more likely to remain in the labor force after marriage. Continue reading from The Brookings Institution
Women’s work has powered American history, but it hasn’t always been easy. Here you can find the stories of people and places that have been part of the struggle to make life better for women at work. Some of these women came together in unions to demand fair pay and safe working conditions. They took to the streets in strikes and boycotts to make their voices heard. Others fought in courtrooms and meeting rooms for laws and policies that would protect women workers and give them a fair shake. Often, their struggles connected to broader fights against racism and sexism and for a fairer society. Continue reading from The National Park Service
The Equal Pay Act of 1963 prohibits wage discrimination on the basis of sex, yet as far back as data has been collected,
women, on average, have been paid less than men. In 2021, when comparing the median annual earnings of workers
employed full-time, year-round, for every dollar paid to men, women were paid 84 cents. For every dollar paid to white
non-Hispanic men:
The gender and racial wage gaps are often calculated based on earnings data for women and men who work full-time,
year-round in order to control for differences in work hours and experience. Continue reading from U.S. Department of Labor (via Internet Archive)
Women's Labor in the Early Nineteenth Century (Khan Academy)
What is the Gender Wage Gap in Your State? (The Census Bureau)
History of the Women's Bureau (U.S. Department of Labor)
History of Women at Work Research Guide (Library of Congress)
Women in the Workplace Oral History Project (University of Montana)
Women's Stories of Developing the American Economy (National Park Service)
Women in the Workforce and the Great Recession (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
