This discussion forum focuses on conflict and coalition among women of the Progressive Era, and ways class, race, and ethnicity influenced women’s views and activism. Chapter 8 of Through Women’s Eyes provides the overview for the Progressive Era, and students have an option of four different essays to choose from (by Hendricks, Yung, Orleck, and Sklar). These essays are the focus of this exercise four discussion board. Use the essay that you choose (Hendricks, Yung, Orleck, Sklar) to answer the questions below.
How did women in the Progressive Era attempt to change their lives (and/or the lives of others)? What issues were they addressing? Were these women successful? Why or why not? What factors (class, race, ethnicity, education, etc.) influenced their views and activism? Does your essay choice demonstrate more conflict or coalition among activists?
Use approximately 150-200 words in your initial post to explain your answers. Remember to identify the historical context in your discussion (such as who, when, where) and to cite your examples/evidence.
In addition to the essay that you choose (by Hendricks, Yung, Orleck, Sklar) you may also draw from Through Women’s Eyes in your answer.
As stated under Basic Discussion Forum Criteria below, an initial post and response post are required for a minimum “C” grade. At least two substantive response posts are required for a higher grade than a “C.” Also, note that students must add their initial post to the forum before they can view students’ posts.
Be sure to follow the Basic Discussion Forum Criteria and Netiquette.
Required Reading
-Choose ONE of these following readings that are available on Brightspace:
Wanda A. Hendricks, “Ida B. Wells-Barnett and the Alpha Suffrage Club of Chicago”
Judy Yung, “Unbound Feet: From China to San Francisco’s Chinatown”
Annelise Orleck, “From the Russian Pale to Labor Organizing”
Kathryn Kish Sklar, “Florence Kelley and Women’s Activism in the Progressive Era”
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Over the last 80 years, an interplay of complex social changes has contributed to a significant increase of women in the workplace. Some causes of these changes include the feminist movement, service sector expansion, equal opportunities, the rise of the knowledge economy, enhanced access to education, and fast-rising cost of living. Importantly, the development of the economy has seen women join a wide range of occupations as opposed to focusing on the nurturing and supportive professions such as nursing and teaching. Consequently, women are now playing major roles in industries that were previously regarded as the prerogative of men. As the economy grows women will increasingly shun their traditional roles of home keepers and join the labor force.
Female labor force participation rate by GDP.
Note: the bubble represents countries population.
Many studies have shown that women play a vital role as key drivers of economic development. Scholars explain that if men and women participated in the labor market at a similar rate, the global economy would generate an additional $ 28 trillion into the global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025, and this would benefit both developing and advanced countries (Madgavkar et al. , 2016). It is also noted that driving sustainable devilment and fostering an inclusive economy requires increasing women ‘s participation. Figure 1. Illustrates that increasing the rate of labor force participation by females can provide countries with an opportunity to attain additional growth. Thus, as countries implement initiatives to achieve their economic development goals, including increasing women’s participation, gender roles are expected to continue changing. Verick (2014) has shown, using the U- shaped hypothesis, that there is a correlation between the rate of female labor force participation with the rate of economic development. The researcher explains that while the hypothesis varies from country to country, in developed countries where women have low fertility rates and high education levels, women join the labor force as the economy grows and demand increases in the services industry. Therefore, as the economy grows, women will abandon their traditional roles of home keeping and join the labor force.
In conclusion, as the economy grows, women will increasingly shun their traditional roles of home keepers and join the labor force. Multiple factors have contributed to an increase of women’s’ participation in the labor force including, the feminist movement, service sector expansion, equal opportunities, emergence of the knowledge economy, enhanced access to education, and fast-rising cost of living. The U – shape hypothesis indicates that as the economy grows, women will join the labor force due to the demand for workers in the services industry.
References
Madgavkar, A., Ellingrud, K., & Krishnan Open interactive popup, M. (2016, March 8). The economic benefits of gender parity. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/overview/in-the-news/the-economic-benefits-of-gender-parity
Verick, S. (2014). Female labor force participation in developing countries. Retrieved from https://wol.iza.org/uploads/articles/264/pdfs/encouraging-womens-labor-force-participation-in-transition-countries.pdf
WhiteHouse. (2019, February 7). Relationship between female labor force participation rates and GDP. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/relationship-female-labor-force-participation-rates-gdp/