Vintage photos show how the role of women in the workforce has evolved in the last 100 years

Vintage photographs from the past century reveal the dramatic transformation of women's roles in the workforce. During the early 1900s, war and technological advancements began to alter the landscape of women's employment. As men were conscripted into military service, women filled roles in factories and other professions previously dominated by men. The 1960s and 1970s saw a surge in women's equality movements, further expanding career opportunities for women.

In the 1920s, the industrial revolution led to a significant increase in women's participation in the workforce. Women began working in factories, producing clothing, food products, and tobacco products. However, jobs were often limited to clerical positions, where women held positions such as typists and secretaries. These roles were considered advantageous due to better pay, working conditions, and hours compared to factory work.

The film industry also provided opportunities for women, with many working behind the scenes in various positions such as typists, secretaries, and costume designers. Women also found work in other industries, including blacksmithing and vehicle maintenance. Despite these advancements, women were largely seen as a precursor to marriage, with only a small percentage of white married women working outside the home.

During the Great Depression, women turned to various jobs to support their families, including secretarial work, teaching, telephone operation, and nursing. They also found employment in sewing rooms as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) program, producing clothing items such as men's trousers, boys' coveralls, baby clothes, women's dresses, and diapers. Despite these efforts, women's wages were still significantly lower than men's for many government jobs in the 1930s.

The National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933 established the National Recovery Administration, which established industry codes that set standards for wages and working hours. However, women were often paid less than men, with just over a quarter of the codes setting lower minimum wage rates for women. During World War II, the War Labor Board ruled that women would be paid the same as male workers who were now away at war.