The Development Of Women’s Group Consciousness In The United States:Women’s Organizations And Social Reform In The Progressive Era

The Progressive Era in American history was both a time of rapid economic development,when the fruits of industrialization and urbanization enabled the middle and upper classes to enjoy a more comfortable life,and a time when social Darwinism was prevalent and the underprivileged were living in hardship due to the inaction of limited government.Faced with the sharp social contradictions and various chaotic situations during the social transformation period,the awareness of social criticism is growing and the demand for reform from people of all ranks is increasing,and women’s groups have become important participants in social change and reform movements.American women have been firmly bound by all aspects of law,religion,and social attitudes since colonial times.The Declaration of Independence,which proclaimed the equality of all people,in fact ignored the existence of women’s independent will,and the Puritan ideology regarded women as subordinate to men,and women who were treated as householders had no political rights,no right to education,and no freedom to participate in public affairs.However,through the ties of family and church women join religious organizations and participate in religious affairs and charities.In the process of limited access to social affairs,women realized that it was the lack of political and economic rights of women’s groups that made them oppressed,thus stimulating the growth of women’s self-awareness.So they began to pursue women’s political rights,namely the right to vote,while demanding women’s right to education.In order to gain better access to the public sphere,women united,set common goals,and created their own organizations,thereby further developing women’s group consciousness.When the Progressive Era came,after early efforts,most middle-class women already had access to higher education and accumulated rich experience in participating in women’s organizations.At the same time,the development of industrialization further liberated women’s hands in housework,giving them ample time and possibility to use the power of women’s groups to change society during the social transformation period.The development of women’s self-awareness led more and more American women and their organizations to join the suffrage movement,which eventually won women’s suffrage in 1920.Aiming at the structural social poverty,child labor and female labor,violent crime and political corruption that were common in the United States during the progressive period,American women who were deeply affected by it actively participated in the social reform movement.The self-awareness and social awareness of women’s groups are vividly displayed in various activities carried out by women’s organizations.“Hadassah” built the foundations of Palestinian medicine and healthcare;“Women’s Peace Party”,while opposing the war,also put forward the demand that women should enter the political field;the community improvement campaign carried out by “Henry Street Settlement” helped address the plight of immigrants,children and women and promoted public care;“National Association of Colored Women” improved the black community;“National Women’s Trade Union League” focused on the economic interests of women workers and promoted protective legislation.There were also many women working in their different fields for the benefit of women’s groups and for the transformation of society.The development of women’s group consciousness during the Progressive Era led to women’s actions,which not only defended women’s rights and won political rights,but also promoted social change and social justice.However,women’s actions also reflect the limitations of the times and embody a certain degree of conservatism,and class consciousness and the negative influence of racist ideology are two prominent aspects of them.All of these,to a certain extent,restrict the American women’s movement to achieve greater results.