African American Women In The 19th Century

The cities of late-nineteenth century America swelled in numbers with immigrants coming for labor, African Americans escaping the discrimination they faced before the Civil War, and farming families with labor being moved to companies instead of individual families. From different sources, like eastern Europe, to the same sources, like Ireland, China, and Mexico, immigrants poured into American cities in search for jobs, which were mainly concentrated in the cities, especially since most immigrants didn’t have substantial funds to move rural communities and the ethnic communities within cities created an environment of acceptance that may be unavailable in rural communities. Also looking for acceptance or at least an end to violence and oppression,

Women in farms found the consumer economy, connecting to the outside world while depriving them of their normal roles; with goods like clothing and other items being purchased, women found themselves with limited roles, and oftentimes farms found themselves less self-sufficient. Women in urban and rural communities alike found these new products that resulted from mass production much easier by means of chain stores, which populated urban communities; mail-order houses, which enabled rural women to order fashion and home decor items remotely; and the department stores, which put multiple products under one roof. Women were able to become participants in public life by working at department stores, shortening their time in kitchen with easier food production, and increasing their interest and involvement in fashion. The new consumer economy dramatically changed the lives of women, allowing for them to become more