Americans’ politicians, journalists, businesspeople, and volunteers rallied to support changes aimed at addressing a wide range of social problems brought on by industrialization at the end of thenineteenth century. Women activists, many of whom came from well-to-do families, underlined the unique role women might play in addressing these issues. Women are uniquely qualified to solve pressing concerns. They practiced what women historians term maternalist politics because they focused on essential matters. Before voting, female social reformers between 1890 and World War I reshaped local and national politics by emphasizing traditional characteristics. Workers in fields such as social work and public health were able to carve out new job prospects.
Even while activists of both sexes had different views on reforms and the nature of the challenges they faced, they were united by a standard set of concerns as part of the progressive movement. Progressives also felt that modern social planning and efficiency techniques would provide remedies to current social problems.