Top Six Ways That Women Have Saved The American Workforce

#1. Industrial Age (Early 1800’s)- Women gave life to the creation of U.S. industry by providing a source of cheap labor to the factories and textile mills of New England.

#2. The American Revolution (1770’s) – After the war with the British, America desired more education for its people, especially its children. Despite a growing school system, the country’s men shunned the predominantly male profession of teaching in search of more lucrative occupations. Women were targeted to fill these positions (and provided a source of cheap labor), correcting the nation’s teacher shortage and converting teaching to a predominantly female profession.

#3. The Civil War (1860’s)-Labeled the deadliest war in American history, this war of North against South resulted in a remarkably high death toll in the male population. Women were summoned to fill in previously male positions to keep the U.S. workforce stable and strong.

#4. The Great Depression (1930’s)- The ramifications of the stock market crash called Black Friday led to male unemployment rates over 25%. Many of the country’s wives had to search for work once their husband’s became unemployed.

#5. World War II (1940’s)- The country’s young men went off to war. Rosie the Riveter was created and introduced to address America’s dire need to keep its defense industry thriving.  Women of all backgrounds entered the workforce by the millions taking heavy industry jobs to keep U.S. factories rolling and defense materials plentiful.

#6. The Great Recession (2008-2012)- This most recent recession disproportionately affected men and was dubbed as the “Mancession”. Millions of households were kept afloat as wives maintained employment once their husbands were left without work.  This event catapulted millions of American women into Female Breadwinner positi