This document traces the evolving roles of women in American society from the 13 colonies to present day. It describes how women traditionally worked within the domestic sphere but began taking on new roles during times of war by working in factories and the military. Over time, women gained greater access to education and careers in fields like medicine, law, and business. The document credits events like women's suffrage and the women's movement with causing a shift toward greater professional opportunities and gender equality.
2. Essential Question
Women with professional roles traditionally held by
men in the fields of Medicine, Law, and Business
reveal a gender shift in the work place.
3. 13 colonies
Young girls were married off at the age of 13.
Legal “property” of their husbands.
Worked at home sun up to sun down.
Chores: Cooking, cleaning, crops, animals, taking
care of children, and making soap and clothes.
Young girls were trained to be wives and mothers.
4.
5. Before WWI
Women in the Suffrage movement sold war bonds to
support their families. They also saved up food.
Overseas Service Unit- Made up of 100 women that
assisted wounded soldiers in Europe.
Women served as nurses
Factory workers
The war increased support for women’s suffrage in
America.
6.
7. During WW II
Men were going off to fight overseas; women took
the factory jobs they left behind.
Made higher wages.
“Rosie the Riveter”
Women’s Army Corps, Navy Women’s Reserves,
Marine Corps Women’s reserves etc. - 350,000
uniformed
Helped win the war by supplying armies with
ammunition and food.
New Orleans- Became steer cart conductors.
8. WWI
Eisenhower stated that without women, the war
could not have been won.
Women’s jobs: repaired airplanes, technicians,
nurses, rigged parachutes, desk jobs, and drove
trucks etc.
Army Nurse Corps- 16 died on the frontline.
The war made the United States see their need for
women on the front and at home.
9. Present Day
Women today have careers in a wide array of
professions.
Graduate from College
Medicine, Law, and Business
Support the family financially
Men and Women now have
equal rights.
10. Medicine
In the late 1800s, 10% of physicians/ nurses were
women.
During the 1900s the public was opposed to women
being in the medical field. Stayed like this until the
1970s.
There are currently more women in Medicine than in
any other point in history.
Elizabeth Blackwell was the first female admitted
into a medical school.
American Medical association elected its first female
board member in 1989.
11.
12. Law (2013)
Before the late 1900s women were not involved in the
profession of law.
33.3% of the professions in the law field are held by
women.
46.8% of the people in law school are women.
Women in leadership positions at the top 50 schools-
42%- (editor and chief 29%)
51% of Judicial clerks are women.
There are currently 3 women that hold the position of
supreme court justices.
27% of state court justices are women.
14. Business (as of 2005)
Fortune 500 Companies
Top positions in the Business field
Women CEOs 1995- 2005 doubled
10.4 million firms owned by Women
Women owned- 12.8 million people with jobs
Women rose in management positions at a higher
rate than women in sales
Women in professional management positions:
2000- 21,937973
2005- 23,582858
15. Cause for the increase of Women in Business
Masters degrees (40.7% increase)
1980-147,332
2005- 350,000
Doctoral degrees (43% increase)
1980- 9,272
2005- 23,300
Professional Degrees
16. Events that Caused this Shift
Women’s movement- 1960s
The right to vote- women’s suffrage (August 8, 1920)
19th amendment
World Wars
Education
19. Works Cited (Pictures)
"Colonial Quills: Colonial Hand Quilting - Labor of Love." Colonial Quills: Colonial Hand Quilting - Labor of Love. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 27 May 2014. <http://colonialquills.blogspot.com/2013/09/colonial-hand-quilting-labor-of-love.html>.
"Heart Care for Women." Valley Heart & Vascular Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2014.
<http://valleyheartandvascular.com/Women-Heart-Care/Heart-Care-for-Women.aspx>.
"Modern Day Super Woman." Course Hero. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2014.
<http://www.coursehero.com/blog/2012/01/20/modern-day-super-woman/>.
"19th Century Nurses." Schse11sp2010 [licensed for Non-commercial Use Only] /. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2014.
<http://schse11sp2010.pbworks.com/w/page/24475663/19th%2520Century%2520Nurses
Rose, Adam J. "Supreme Court Starts New Era With 3 Women On Bench." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com,
05 Oct. 2010. Web. 27 May 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/05/supreme-court-starts-new-
_n_750408.html>.
"Rosie the Riveter." In Brief Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2014. <http://inb
riefonline.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/womens-history-month/rosie-the-riveter/>.
"Women in the Progressive Era." Women in the Progressive Era. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 May 2014.
<http://www.nwhm.org/online-exhibits/progressiveera/worldwarI.html>.