Women's Working-Class Women During The 1800s-1900s

Working class women during the 1800s-1900s most often had no choice but to work to help provide for their families. Female wage earners were mainly unmarried women, single mothers, or African American women. Often women’s wages were believed to be secondary to the earnings of the men in the household; even though women’s earnings were also vital to the family’s survival. “In 1890 three-quarter of white working women were unmarried.” (297) These women either worked in domestic service for richer families or they worked in factories. Domestic labor became the largest area, however industrial work was “distinctive and highly explorative form of production, the sweat shop was growing faster.” (294) This however was in addition to their household work including caring for the children, cleaning and cooking.
From 1860 until 1890, the percentage of “the nonagricultural wage labor force that was female increased from 10.2 to 17 percent.” (295) During most of this period their male counterparts were paid much better than women; leading to more financial strain on said women. The work done by women in this time period women’s work was not often included in statistics or official records. Leading to an altered perception
Barry was designated in 1886 to head the Woman's Department. During her involvement with the Knights of Labor, Barry worked to improve the working conditions and the wages of women and children around the country. However after two years of working for the organization a frustrated Barry resigned from her position with the Knights of Labor. Barry’s beliefs on who was the breadwinner in the family was that the “man should be the breadwinner.” (301) Although she did believe that women should be allowed to have every opportunity to become accomplished in whatever vocation they