The Changing Role of Women Leaders in the American Labor Movement

As a woman and a minority, I have felt discriminated against in the workplace several times, even in the 21st century. Women for many years have demonstrated their presence in society and have been able to prove that they can achieve great things. Unfortunately, throughout history women have suffered and have fought for equality, which is why I chose to write my paper on the Changing Role of Women Leaders in the American Labor Movement. Women mostly played a key role in expanding labor rights during the time of industrialization. This was achieved by campaigning and organizing grassroots, which eventually helped women bring national attention to the unfair conditions brought about by industrialization. This paper will focus on describing the early days, the different movements and were women stand today;

1.    The role of women in early labor movement

2.    Historical figures during the labor movement

1. Mary “Mother” Jones
2. Lucy Parsons
3. Dolores Huerta
4. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt

3.    The evolution of women in the workforce

4.    Fighting for equal pay

5.    Women who continue to fight for our rights today

Women have suffered continuously throughout history and have struggled to prove that they are just as, if not more capable in the workforce- than men. I will start off by describing women during the early labor movement; the rise of unions and how it, unfortunately, favored men over women; famous unions organized by women; historical figures during the labor movement, such as Mother Jones, Lucy Parsons, Dolores Huerta and others; as well as the fight for equal pay; and women who continue to fight for these rights today. Through the process of grassroots organization and campaigning, female laborers were able to bring national attention to the unjust conditions brought about by industrialization. Beginning with Southern laundresses and ending with textile workers, women have led strikes and other calls to action. As local leaders within the broader labor movement, women in the 19th century crushed the archetype of the submissive and docile female while expanding their rights as working women.

The Industrial Revolution was without a doubt one of the most transformative moments in history. It dramatically altered economic and social structures during the 18th and 19th-century society. Heavy machinery and growing manufacturing served as the beginnings of economic change; it shifted the bulk of production from home-made products to mass-produced products. These shifts in production led to the development of factories, in which hundreds of workers would be working with this machinery to mass-produce goods. The growth of factories drew mass amounts of people from rural areas to these readily available jobs in the city. Unfortunately, working conditions were atrocious. Safety standards and labor laws were non-existent during this time. Low wages, long hours, plus unsafe conditions were commonplace in this new industrial society.