Snapshots That Give A Glimpse Into Women’s Lives 100 Years Ago

The world appears to be constantly changing daily in almost every aspect of our lives. Not only from a technological standpoint, with computers and artificial intelligence, but from an environmental and social perspective as well. Social media platforms have come to dominate, online networks like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, and the high pace of climate change has been exponentially greater in the past few decades, leaving lasting ill effects.

But no change is more evident or more significant than the transformation experienced by women. Over 100 years, the difference in women's lives has been incredible, and nothing illustrates this better than snapshots. During the early 1900s, a time when it wasn't considered proper for women to wear pants, women were only beginning to gain certain rights when the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920 allowing women the right to vote (although many minority women were still unable to vote for years).

During the First World War, women took positions that were predominately held by men when nearly five million American men fought in the war, which led to women taking jobs in industries like manufacturing to replace the men who were off fighting. Although much has changed, and yet, remains somewhat the same, it's interesting to look back and see how different things were.

To find snapshots that give a glimpse into women's lives 100 years ago, 24/7 Tempo used photos and information from sources such as History.com, Reader's Digest, and PBS. (To see more pictures of what life was like 100 years ago, check out 20 photos that show what life was like in the 1920s.)

Portrait of a female servant holding a serving tray and a broom, 1920s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

While wealthy families tended to pay more, many servants in the 1920s worked for little or sometimes no pay. Those who worked for no pay often worked in exchange for a place to live.

Maids and domestic staff started to become less common by the 1930s, but some middle and upper-class families in the 1920s still hired maids to help around the house and assist in raising the children.

In the 1920s, former officers from the Armed Forces could go to the club to socialize. Some women worked in these clubs, like the woman pictured here working as a business secretary.

Before you could run to the store to buy cloth or yarn, women used spinning wheels to create their own. By the 1920s, yarn had become more widely available but many women continued to use spinning wheels.

Beauty pageants have existed since at least the mid-1800s. However, the first Miss America beauty pageant was held in Atlantic City in 1921 as a way to attract tourists.

More women started working in factories during World War I. Since the factories were a necessary part of war production, women had to take over many positions previously held by men. Even after the war, women continued to work in factories.

Another common job for women 100 years ago was working in a mill. These women typically worked at least 12 hours a day and those that had children left their children in a nursery or with a relative while they worked.

Although women in the insurance industry in the 1920s didn't hold the same positions as men, many started working as stenographers or bookkeepers. They also worked other clerical-type jobs.

The Ordnance Department of the U.S. Army is the branch that supplied and maintained weapons and ammunition. This department was the first to organize a women's branch within the federal government.

There has been an increase in women in the welding industry in recent years, but women have worked in welding for quite some time. It was particularly common during World War II, but even before the war, some women worked in welding factories.

During wartime, women were needed in ordnance plants to keep up with demand for weapons and ammunition. Many continued to work in this department after the war was over.

Nowadays, if you go to the beach you'll see most women wearing bikinis. A hundred years ago, swimsuits looked very different and often included swim belts. These belts were usually worn to keep two-piece swimsuits in place, even in the water.

Waitressing was a popular job for women in the 1920s. In an attempt to advocate for fair and safe work conditions for women, the Women's Bureau supported laws that impacted these women, such as the law in New York that prohibited female waitresses from working overnight.

The Girl Scouts were founded in 1912 when the first troop came together. There were almost 70,000 members in the Girl Scouts by 1920 and the organization continued to grow over the years.

Roller skating has been popular since the 19th century. In 1902, a public skating rink opened at The Coliseum in Chicago, attracting over 7,000 people in one day. Roller skating was still a fun pastime in the 1920s. (Check out these 23 remarkable photos of women's fitness routines in the 1900s.)