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Summary and Objective
In this lesson students will read about the changes occurring in women's roles in the workplace and examine a newspaper article from a local newspaper to see what was happening with working hours for women in their community. Also, they will look at the photograph to see what might be learned or deduced about the period. From their additional reading of the web links related to women in the work force and about the Progressive Era in general, they will determine how the goals and ideals of the Progressive Era played out locally.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Go to the American Centuries Web Site .
Step 2.
Read the article "Shorter Hours for Women", view the photo of "Arms Manufacturing" and read "Gender Roles: A New American Workforce" (This article is found in the Turns of the Century Exhibit under Family Life 1880-1920)
Step 3.
Answer the following questions about the "Shorter Hours for Women" article:
1. Where and when was the article written?
2. To whom does the article specifically relate.
3. How many hours a week are women and minors allowed to work?
4. How many hours is it believed women and children are working in Turners Falls?
Step 4.
From the "Arms Manufacturing" photo and the "Gender Roles: A New American Workforce" article, answer the following questions:
1. What fear did men have about women in the workplace?
2. What advantages could women working bring to all women?
While looking carefully at the photo answer the last questions posed at the end of the end of the "Gender Roles: A New American Workforce" article. Do you notice anything different about the women on the far right amongst the men? What might you suppose about their position in the factory?
Step 5.
Read the connecting links and take notes about goals of the Progressive Movement.
Step 6.
As a Post Activity and Final Assessment: Write a two page paper showing how the national efforts of the Progressive Movement are reflected locally. Site evidence from the American Centuries sources and the web links. Include the working conditions that workers had to face each day.
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