Final answer:
The role of women evolved during the industrial era as they took their domestic skills into the public sphere, engaging in social and political reform movements, and contributing to the workforce in roles often categorized as 'women's jobs'. This laid the groundwork for activism around equal rights and the suffrage movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the period of increased industrialization, women's roles began to shift significantly. Although women's labor was essential, especially in early factories such as the textile industry, their jobs were often usurped by mechanization. Despite this, they played a critical role in the home, which transitioned into valuable skills for community social projects. Middle-class women, in particular, utilized their domestic knowledge in the public sphere, joining various organizations, including the Women's Christian Temperance Union and the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs.
Women were becoming more active in reform movements, realizing that with the rights to vote, run for office, and control property, they could be more effective in societal improvement. Consequently, many were simultaneously active in women's rights movements. Their increased involvement in public life and education set the stage for future advances, such as securing the right to vote. In non-domestic roles, women were pushed into so-called "women's jobs," but their employment was often accepted due to lower wages compared to men. This experience in the workforce eventually led to increased activism for equal rights and women's suffrage.