Women's Work: 9 to 5 and Beyond
During the Industrial Era, women had a growing presence in the paid labor market in Middletown and the rest of the country— in addition to their existing unpaid responsibilities in the home and community. As their presence increased in the paid labor market, they faced unique challenges based on their race, class, and gender. Women were limited in what occupations they could have, and even in the occupations in which they were allowed they faced various forms of mistreatment compared to their male counterparts. Throughout this section you will explore the often overlooked history of women’s contributions in the labor force. This part of the project will take you on a journey to explore what women did to get a living, what constituted "work" for women, how they were treated while they worked, and how the lens of intersectionality can help us understand these experiences.
Section Authors: Kathleen Donoho, Katrina Partlow (editor), and Haylee Shull