Ch. 9 Section 4 Changing Roles of Women Margaret Sanger

Changing Roles of Women “The Woman Question”-debate about the roles of women in society.

Women’s Equality? Supporters of Equality Be allowed to vote Allowed to control their property and income Able to receive higher education Hired for professional jobs Against Female Equality It will disrupt the social order —Dad in charge, Mom takes care of kids… It will destroy feminity —women will begin to act like men!

Women’s Work at Home Most homes do not have electricity -By 1917-only 25% have electricity New Items to Help at Home -carpet sweeper -1908 electric vacuum -canned food -premade biscuits -washing machine -store bought clothes -cereal

Women’s Work at Home Brand Names Become Popular -Jell-o -Campbell’s soup -Hershey’s chocolate -Morton salt -Kellogg’s Corn Flakes -Post Grape Nuts

Women As Consumer’s Department Stores -cater to women -offer wide variety of goods unlike old general stores -broken down by departments

Women as Consumers Do you recognize any of these stores? -Marshall Fields -Macy’s -Hudson’s -J.C.Penney -Montgomery Ward -Kresge’s -Woolworth’s -Sears, Roebuck & Co.

Women as Consumers Chain stores- located at different sites but have the same owner and will sell the same items. Cheaper because the owner can buy the items in bulk. -Woolworth’s Five and Dime is an example

Women as Consumers mail-order catalog -printed materials of what could be purchased by mail. rural free delivery -free delivery offered by U.S. Post Office to farm families in rural areas.

Women Outside the Home Most women who worked were single. Work was frowned upon for married women. Women make 60% of men’s salaries $3-5 weekly.

Women’s Occupations Professional nurses teachers social workers Unskilled domestic servants (maids, cooks, servants, laundry) telephone operators shoe or textile factories Professional nurses teachers social workers - clerical

Women’s Clubs & Volunteer Groups Help give women: 1. public speaking opportunities 2. self-confidence 3. organizational skills 4. recognition 5. socialization opportunities

Clubs and Volunteering examples -New England Women’s Club-service -Daughters of the American Revolution-citizenship -Chicago’s Women’s Club-Reading -Women’s Christian Temperance Union-limit alcohol

The Woman Question by 1900 Along with economic and political rights includes: 1. How should women dress and behave? -Shorter hair -Shorter dresses -wear skirts and blouses

The Woman Question by 1900 What about courting and marriage? “new women” -dated without supervision -had higher divorce rates- was 1 out of 12 in 1900 now 1 out of 9 by 1916 -wanted birth control advice- Margaret Sanger

The Woman Question by 1900 Domestic fulfillment was still the chief goal of women.