Sign in or create a free account to curate your search content.
Women in West Virginia have faced many challenges, shaped by their rural and industrial environments as well as their family roles. Over time, they have also dealt with changing opportunities for education and jobs. Even with these burdens, West Virginia women have shown great strength and adaptability. They have traditionally played crucial roles in supporting their families and contributing to their communities.
Before World War II, most women in West Virginia lived on farms. They were responsible for gardening, cooking, preserving food, making clothes, and handling many other household tasks. This work was vital to the family's survival. While men and wo...
Starting in the late 1800s and speeding up in the early 1900s, West Virginia became more focused on industry and less on farming. Men began leaving farm work to take industrial jobs, like working on railroads or in coal mines. As a result, their w...
West Virginia's industrial growth often left women out of paid work, which limited their ability to be financially independent. Most women contributed through domestic labor at home and raising their families. Despite these important tasks, their ...
By the early 1900s, women played an important role in major political and social movements, such as labor unions and women's suffrage. Although they couldn't vote in West Virginia until 1920, many women actively pushed for changes in society. They...
By the early 1920s, women had more and more opportunities to work outside the home, attend school, and start professional careers.
During World War II (1941-45), 2,000 women from West Virginia joined the military. In addition, as more men were called into military service, women stepped into many of their former industrial jobs, keeping the economy and war efforts going strong.
Throughout the 20th century, women with formal educations were gradually able to find paying jobs, particularly in the teaching and nursing fields. However, they still faced many challenges. In some jobs, women were forced to resign if they got ma...
Today, women continue to face challenges. West Virginia has a lower percentage of women with a higher education compared to the national average. This has created economic barriers for many. While some women have built careers in fields such as he...