Working Women in the 1920s
Not only were women in the 1920s changing the conventional gender norms in fashion and persona, but they also began changing their roles in society, creating new opportunities for themselves.
During World War I, women were forced to seek jobs while men were fighting the war overseas.
- Because of the circumstances, women ranging from ages 15-34 comprised over twenty percent of the workforce.
- Once the war ended in 1918, women’s presence in the workforce continued, however, their jobs concentrated around five specific areas: personal service, manufacturing, transportation, communication, and commerce.
- From 1921-1931, female laborers made up to around 75 percent of the specific jobs.
Women still participated in blue and white collar jobs; the bobbed hair and short skirt trends of the decade aided female workers straining in manual labor jobs from being scalped or pulled into dangerous machinery (Strong-Boag, 1979). Unfortunately, these particular jobs would offer low wages, irregular work
hours, and non-essential tasks for women. The low wages women received was never based on a low amount of hours worked, but rather discrimination for their sex. Women could labor up to fifty hours in one week, never qualifying for overtime pay. Because of the unfair pay and discrimination in the work
force, it was common for women to shift from a manual labor job, like a factory or millinery, to a waitressing or fruit picking job within a year (Strong-Boag, 1979).
During World War I, women were forced to seek jobs while men were fighting the war overseas.
- Because of the circumstances, women ranging from ages 15-34 comprised over twenty percent of the workforce.
- Once the war ended in 1918, women’s presence in the workforce continued, however, their jobs concentrated around five specific areas: personal service, manufacturing, transportation, communication, and commerce.
- From 1921-1931, female laborers made up to around 75 percent of the specific jobs.
Women still participated in blue and white collar jobs; the bobbed hair and short skirt trends of the decade aided female workers straining in manual labor jobs from being scalped or pulled into dangerous machinery (Strong-Boag, 1979). Unfortunately, these particular jobs would offer low wages, irregular work
hours, and non-essential tasks for women. The low wages women received was never based on a low amount of hours worked, but rather discrimination for their sex. Women could labor up to fifty hours in one week, never qualifying for overtime pay. Because of the unfair pay and discrimination in the work
force, it was common for women to shift from a manual labor job, like a factory or millinery, to a waitressing or fruit picking job within a year (Strong-Boag, 1979).