The Progressive Era (1900-1916) was marked with notable contributions that would lead to the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, thus granting females the right to vote. To start off, feminism rebranded in the early stages of the Progressive era; perspectives were broadened, and females re-defined personal liberties. The new feminism movement sought “…greater liberty, free sexual expression and reproductive choice…” (Foner 2017, 713) New feminists in the nineteenth century viewed having control over their bodies and choosing motherhood as a primary base for their platform; birth control aided this purpose. Respectively, the birth control reform mounted and figures, like Emma Goldman and Margaret Sanger, were elemental to its progression. Soon, Goldman began to lecture around the country, while Sanger initiated her own sexual education column on The Call, titled “What Every Girl Should Know.” Such endeavors centered the reform in the spotlight, and it resulted in the freedom of speech, expression being tested to its limits.
Furthermore, as Progressivism spread, females took it upon themselves to conduct activism in a democratic setting. Despite not being able to vote, women dwelled in public affairs by establishing settlement homes, clinics, labor bureaus, as well as infrastructures for children. Jane Adams was among the biggest influences on the movement, as Hull House’s founder, she set out to help impoverished immigrants. Moreover, the social services provided by such institutions supported the poor and needy, and “By 1910, more than 400 settlement houses had been established in cities throughout history.” (Foner 2017, 720) However, the movement’s leaders soon realized that to ultimately help those less fortunate, the governmental participation was required to support those efforts. So, reformers urbanized, cultivated trends for the betterment of workers’ environments, labor hours, sanitation codes, and union rights. Notably, the women’s reform caused child labor to be outlawed by 1915.
Similarly, women in all areas created a lasting impact, with more and more women obtained college degrees and expanding their labor areas to new professions. For example, Julia Lathrop became the first-ever head of a federal agency in 1912 with the Children’s Bureau. In contrast, Florence Kelly led the “National Consumers’ League became the nation’s leading advocate governing the working conditions of women and children.” (Foner 2017, 721) On the other hand, the never-ending desire and passion for suffrage progressed through the era; the movement enjoyed many victories as some states allowed women to vote in certain issues. Each state had a different approach and leeway concerning women’s suffrage; in some states, women began to take public office as early as the 1920s. Yet, Illinois permitted women to vote in the presidential election in 1913.
Comparatively, another reform, known as the Maternalist Reform, desired to facilitate the needs women and children of low income. Beginning in 1910, “Laws providing for mothers’ pensions (state aid to mothers of young children who lacked male support) spread rapidly…” (Foner 2017, 722) In spite of the activist work to help poor mothers, these initiatives were highly discriminative to blacks and single mothers, widows seemed to be benefitted exceedingly. Many women worked in order to provide for their families, but they were seen as weaklings in constant need of governmental protection. Important court decisions, such as Muller v. Oregon helped to establish a limit on a women’s working hours due to their inferiority and fragility. In addition to this, the reform called for additional securities to diminish hardships such as unemployment, disability, and illnesses. The Feminists hoped that the implementation of the aforementioned policies would encourage female independence and guide towards the ultimate goal, which was to obtain a political voice through suffrage.
In conclusion, the Progressive Era was marked by many contributions by the Feminist reform. A plethora of activism towered across the land to help the rejected immigrant, as well as the lacking poor. The suffrage unyielding force led by the masses of various classes of women would later bring the nation, one step closer towards equality. Furthermore, though many of the central issues regarding the movement have been long solved, some troubles such as birth control remain engraved in modern politics.
References
- Foner, Eric. ‘The Progressive Era.’ In Give Me Liberty!: An American History, 691-732. 5th ed. Vol. 2. W. W. Norton & Company.
