1) In the 1800s, women's roles were mainly defined by the family and they had few legal and economic rights.
2) The Industrial Revolution opened new jobs for women as clerks, secretaries, and other low-paying white-collar positions.
3) Throughout the 1800s, marriage was considered the primary role for women, though some worked in education, social work, and healthcare. The women's movement that began in the 1800s fought for women's property rights and access to education and employment.