Women's Role In The Progressive Movement

The Progressive Era consisted of a movement for “reform that occured between 1900 and 1920. Many people beleived that irresponsible actions by the rich were coruppting both public and private life” (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/progressive-movement). Women played a major role in the success of the progressive movement by pushing for equality and to better the conditions of everyday life. The goal of women's suffrage was so hard to achieve because men generally held higher positions in government and social life and did not believe women were capable of handling the powers they were asking for. Although the Women's Suffrage Movement was strong, there were weaknesses within it.
Women had such an important role in the success of the progressive

movement because they not only focused on equality for themselves, but they also worked towards improving public health and safety. During the progressive era, “the National American Woman Suffrage Association, National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, and National Association of Colored Women” (http://www.crusadeforthevote.org/progressive-era-reformers) grew tremdoulsy. “Women of all backgrounds—rich and poor, white and black, native-born Americans and immigrants—participated in these national women’s clubs” (http://www.crusadeforthevote.org/progressive-era-reformers). Women were creating more of a voice for themselves than the had before and worked to better the lives of others. During the Progressive Era, women “intensified their activities on behalf of a national ban on alcohol and against prostitution” (https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/politics-reform/essays/women-and-progressive-movement). Their actions later lead to the creation of the Eighteenth Amendment banning alcohol.
The fight for women's suffrage was a constant battle between men and women. The first issue between men and women was that husbands viewed their wives as their “possessions” which meant that they should do everything they say. By this time women were starting to gain more of an independence and had gained a sense of being in the workforce while their husbands were away at war. The second issue was that men believed that women were uneducated which made them incapable of voting for president. The last issue was that men believed they were ultimately above women and that was the way it should be. Men believed in this philosophy and their minds were not going to be easily persuaded otherwise.
Although the Women's Suffrage Movement was powerful, there were weaknesses within it. Many women believed in the need for equality, but there were those whose opinions differed. Some men and women feared for what equality would bring. Some women were afraid that they would have to compete against men in areas that they were not prepared for. Many women were afraid of entering politics and leaving the “natural roles” of wife and mother.
Women were very influential in the Progressive movement and helped worked towards solving issues in political and everyday life. Although there were struggles against the differing opinions and the opinions of men, women fought for the equality they believed in creating new opportunities for women in the future.