Vintage photos show how the role of women in the workforce has evolved in the last 100 years

Erin McDowellMar 4, 2021, 21:14 IST

A woman works at an early model desktop computer made by Servus, circa the 1970s.Hulton Archive/Getty Images

During the early 20th century, women's employment was affected by war and advancements in tech.
In the 1960s and 1970s, women were able to expand their horizons and career opportunities.
Vintage photos from the past 100 years show how their roles have changed.

Working women have come a long way in the last 100 years.

In the 1920s, women entered the workforce in astonishing numbers as a result of the industrial revolution.

Then, as men were sent off to war, more women got involved in the wartime effort in factories and other professions previously dominated by men.

Women's equality movements throughout the 1960s and 1970s gave even more opportunities to working women, and in recent years, more women were in the US workforce than men. However, the coronavirus pandemic has caused the women's labor force participation rate to hit a 33-year low.

Here are 28 vintage photos that show how the role of women in the workforce has evolved in the last 100 years.

In the wake of the industrial revolution, more women than ever began to leave the household and go out to work.

Women postal workers at a sorting office, circa 1920. FPG/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Many women also began working in factories.

Operating room of Ladies Rayon Undergarment Factory, 1920. George Rinhart/Corbis/Getty Images

During World War I, women held occupations in domestic and personal service, clerical occupations, and factory work.

Woman working in an office, USA, circa 1921. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

After the Women's Bureau was established in the US Department of Labor on June 5, 1920, women had even more opportunities in the labor force.

Gertrude Olmstead from the MGM Studios checks the costume design with the dress being made by the costumer. Hulton-Deutsch/Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis/Getty Images

Women also held jobs as blacksmiths and worked on vehicles.

A female blacksmith at work in her workshop, circa 1920. Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images

Unemployed women during the Great Depression could join "SheSheShe" camps.

Several women attend a work camp at Bear Mountain for unemployed, homeless, and single women during the Great Depression. Getty Images

Many families during the Great Depression were able to achieve middle-class status by adding another working member to the household - in many cases, a woman.

Women sewing clothes to be sold during the Great Depression, North Platte, Nebraska, November 1937. Hansel Mieth/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

During World War II, women assisted in manufacturing wartime necessities like gas masks. By 1945, one in every four married women worked in jobs outside the home.

Women working in a gas mask factory, 1940. Thomas D. Mcavoy/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Image

Before the war, women were in traditionally "female" fields such as nursing and teaching. By 1943, women made up 65% of the US aircraft industry's workforce.

Woman working on a Vengeance dive bomber, using a hand drill. Universal History Archive/Getty Images

In 1935, women made 25% less than men for government jobs. In 1942, even though the War Labor Board required these women to be paid the same as men, the war ended before they could receive equal pay.

A nurse lighting the pipe of US pilot Harold Ingley, lying on a field hospital bed in Italy, September 1, 1944. Mondadori/Getty Images

In 1935, women made 25% less than men for government jobs. In 1942, even though the War Labor Board required these women to be paid the same as men, the war ended before they could receive equal pay.

Women were largely seen as "supplemental" workers in the 1950s, meaning their income was secondary to their husband's.

A waitress serving men breakfast in the 1950s. William Gottlieb/CORBIS/Corbis/Getty Images

Women returned to stereotypically "feminine" jobs - in some cases, jobs were advertised as for women only.

A businessman and a secretary in the 1950s. George Marks/Retrofile/Getty Images

The 1950s marked the beginning of the "jet age," and many young women found work as flight attendants, then called "stewardesses."

Regular Delta C&S Stewardess Mary Lee Shultz, of Memphis, adjusts a colleague's cap as they both prepare for flight in the operations room, 1956. Getty Images

While many women joined the workforce, they were nevertheless expected to fulfill their duties at home, in what would be coined "the second shift."

An American housewife in 1960 demonstrates the cleaning power of Vel detergent for a TV advert. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

In the 1950s and 1960s, women found creative ways to make their own incomes from their homes.

Tupperware party scene, 1960. Science & Society Picture Library/SSPL/Getty Images

Women were also making history in their careers.

American broadcast journalist Barbara Walters eats a sandwich as she works at her desk in New York in 1966. Rowland Scherman/Getty Images

While technology-based and other computer programming jobs may now be dominated by men, the same jobs were considered "women's work" in the 1960s.

Women weave hair-like wires and tiny metallic cores into memory at the Ampex computer products division circa 1960. Authenticated News/Archive Photos/Getty Images

Women soon made up a majority of the trained workforce in the computing industry.

A woman working on a Honeywell tape drive computer, circa 1969. Underwood Archives/Getty Images

In the 1960s, multiple pieces of legislation were passed to protect women in the workplace from discrimination.

An equal pay for women demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, 1969. Stan Meagher/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

During the 1970s, computing work gained more prestige as the industry realized how valuable computers would become.

A woman works at an early model desktop computer made by Servus, circa the 1970s. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

By the 1970s, many women were still fighting for better workplace conditions, equal pay, and more job opportunities.

A businesswoman in the 1970s. H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images

In the 1970s, education became more important than ever for securing a well-paying job.

Nurses and doctors at Pelham Bay General Hospital examine a patient's X-ray in 1975. Eric Bard/Corbis/Getty Images

Women in the workforce in the 1980s continued to make strides, but there was still a ways to go.

Marilyn Neckes, a former TV producer who changed careers to a stockbroker, in 1984. Barbara Alper/Getty Images

However, women of the 1980s made history in their fields. Dr. Mae Jemison was among 15 new astronauts named by NASA and became the first black female shuttle flyer.

Dr. Mae Jemison is among 15 new astronauts in 1987 named by NASA and the first black female shuttle flyer. Getty Images

The New York Times has referred to the 1990s as the "best era for working women."

CDC employee working at a computer in 1995. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

According to Time, women were also postponing marriage and children until later in life.

Two businesswomen view the latest stock prices on the Nasdaq Wall in 1997. James Leynse/Corbis/Getty Images

In recent years, women held more jobs than men in the US workforce.

Woman working in an office building in the 1990s. Wally Santana/AP Images

The coronavirus pandemic caused the women's labor force participation rate to hit a 33-year low in January 2021.

A mural urging people to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

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Vintage photos show how the role of women in the workforce has evolved in the last 100 years

In the wake of the industrial revolution, more women than ever began to leave the household and go out to work.

Many women also began working in factories.

During World War I, women held occupations in domestic and personal service, clerical occupations, and factory work.

After the Women's Bureau was established in the US Department of Labor on June 5, 1920, women had even more opportunities in the labor force.

Women also held jobs as blacksmiths and worked on vehicles.

Unemployed women during the Great Depression could join "SheSheShe" camps.

Many families during the Great Depression were able to achieve middle-class status by adding another working member to the household - in many cases, a woman.

During World War II, women assisted in manufacturing wartime necessities like gas masks. By 1945, one in every four married women worked in jobs outside the home.

Before the war, women were in traditionally "female" fields such as nursing and teaching. By 1943, women made up 65% of the US aircraft industry's workforce.

In 1935, women made 25% less than men for government jobs. In 1942, even though the War Labor Board required these women to be paid the same as men, the war ended before they could receive equal pay.

Women were largely seen as "supplemental" workers in the 1950s, meaning their income was secondary to their husband's.

Women returned to stereotypically "feminine" jobs - in some cases, jobs were advertised as for women only.

The 1950s marked the beginning of the "jet age," and many young women found work as flight attendants, then called "stewardesses."

While many women joined the workforce, they were nevertheless expected to fulfill their duties at home, in what would be coined "the second shift."

In the 1950s and 1960s, women found creative ways to make their own incomes from their homes.

Women were also making history in their careers.

While technology-based and other computer programming jobs may now be dominated by men, the same jobs were considered "women's work" in the 1960s.

Women soon made up a majority of the trained workforce in the computing industry.

In the 1960s, multiple pieces of legislation were passed to protect women in the workplace from discrimination.

During the 1970s, computing work gained more prestige as the industry realized how valuable computers would become.

By the 1970s, many women were still fighting for better workplace conditions, equal pay, and more job opportunities.

In the 1970s, education became more important than ever for securing a well-paying job.

Women in the workforce in the 1980s continued to make strides, but there was still a ways to go.

However, women of the 1980s made history in their fields. Dr. Mae Jemison was among 15 new astronauts named by NASA and became the first black female shuttle flyer.

The New York Times has referred to the 1990s as the "best era for working women."

According to Time, women were also postponing marriage and children until later in life.

In recent years, women held more jobs than men in the US workforce.

The coronavirus pandemic caused the women's labor force participation rate to hit a 33-year low in January 2021.