At the start of the 20th century, the women who fought for their rights emerged from all walks of life, giving rise to many different social and economic backgrounds. Women from the middle and upper classes, like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, had a degree of education and financial independence, and they took a complete interest in the cause and did not have to worry about money (Gouldin, 2020). However, the laboring class women who most often found themselves in low-paying jobs usually had less time and resources to take part in the movement wholeheartedly.
However, the movement was a place for working-class women to contribute positively. Women of color like Sojourner Truth and Ida B. Wells struggled for both gender equality and racial equality while facing discrimination and economic hardships. It is crucial to note that the socioeconomic standing of women activists differed globally, but some were further burdened by colonial oppression in various areas. The diversity of these women was not a barrier to achieving gender equality or ensuring the rights of all women.
The Industrial Revolution affected women’s rights activists as they understood the significance of the conjunction of class and race. They tried to develop a united front with the women of the working class and the women of color along the lines of their recognition of the interrelatedness of their struggle. In conjunction, they supported the legislative reforms, which improved the living conditions for the workers, regulating working hours, child labor and wages. These endeavors paved the way for future improvements in gender equality, proving the persistence and tenacity of activists during this period of significant change.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, African Americans in the United States struggled immensely with severe socioeconomic challenges caused by racial discrimination and segregation. Many lived in poverty; they were sharecroppers or worked low-paying jobs with few chances of progress. Their living conditions became more segregated, and many of them were denied education and public services. Thus, their situation became even more disadvantageous. The segregation in all aspects of life was propagated by the Jim Crow laws, which specifically restricted the rights of blacks. However, African Americans took the initiative to establish their communities and various institutions to help them survive. They faced systematic injustice but were determined to battle for equal opportunity and fairness.
The Industrial Revolution gave African Americans opportunities and difficulties in the United States (Orleck, 2022). Migration from the countryside to cities was due to the opportunity to find a well-paid job in factories and industries. Though segregation was the norm, African Americans were labeled inferior and usually worked in poorly paid and dangerous jobs. Racial tensions were even more aggravated, with the violence and hostility erupting in cities (Stearns, 2022).
Segregation was still in operation, with African Americans being segregated into the poorest neighborhoods and given unequal access to education and healthcare. Jim Crow legalized the segregation of races, therefore limiting social and economic advancement. Despite these barriers, African Americans stuck to their guns and stood up for civil rights by organizing and building new communities. The Industrial Revolution created opportunities for African Americans in the economic sector; however, it maintained the racial bias and stereotypes that led to their struggle for many centuries in the future.
References
Gouldin, E. (2020). “A Purse of Her Own”: Susan B. Anthony’s Fight for the Economic Independence of Women (Doctoral dissertation, Notre Dame of Maryland University).
Orleck, A. (2022). Rethinking American women’s activism. Routledge.
Stearns, P. N. (2020). The industrial revolution in world history. Routledge.
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